SB    115    525 


PAULINE  FORE  MOFFITT 
LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
GENERAL  LIBRARY,  BERKELEY 


., 


/*L 


i/rU^e^L  Jfa~s£t 


THE   STORY 
OF    THE    ILIAD 


BY  THE 


REV.  ALFRED  J.  CHURCH,  M.A. 

Lately  Professor  of  Latin  in  University  College,  London 


With  Illustrations  after  FLAX  MAN 


• 

LONDON 

SEELEY   AND    CO.,    LIMITED 

ESSEX  STREET,  STRAND 

1893 


Copyright  in  the  United  States. 


PREFACE 

FOURTEEN  years  ago,  in  introducing  my 
'Stories  from  Homer'  to  the  public,  I  ex- 
pressed the  hope  that  they  would  '  repre- 
sent Homer  not  unfaithfully  to  readers,  old 
and  young,  who  did  not  know  him  in  the 
original.'  The  book  has  found,  on  both 
sides  of  the  Atlantic,  many  such  readers, 
and  not  a  few,  I  am  proud  to  think,  who, 
knowing  the  original,  have  judged  this 
adaptation  to  be  not  altogether  unworthy 
of  it.  If  I  could  have  anticipated  so  warm 
a  welcome  for  my  little  work — the  sale 
now  exceeds  twenty  thousand  copies — I 
should  not  have  attempted  to  compress 
into  a  single  volume  the  substance  of  the 
two  poems.  The  two  volumes  which  I 


375 


iv  PREFACE 

now  publish,  under  the  titles  of  '  The  Story 
of  the  Iliad,'  and  'The  Story  of  the 
Odyssey,'  give  a  much  fuller,  and,  I  trust, 
a  more  adequate  presentment  of  them. 
In  the  first  of  these  the  narrative  has 
been  made  continuous  and  completed  by 
a  beginning  and  an  ending,  both  very 
brief,  and  containing,  it  may  be  said, 
nothing  that  is  not  strictly  Homeric ;  in 
the  second,  Homer's  own  order  has  been 
restored,  so  that  Ulysses  now  tells  his 
adventures  in  the  first  person. 

A.  C. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.    OF   \VHAT    BEFELL  BEFORE    THE   QUARREL,  .  1 

II.  THE  QUARREL, 4 

III.  THE  ASSEMBLY, 19 

IV.  THE  DUEL  OF  PARIS  AND  MENELAUS,        .        .  34 
V.  THE  BROKEN  OATH, 45 

VI.  THE  VALIANT  DEEDS  OF  DIOMED,      ...        54 

VII.  GLAUCUS  AND  DIOMED, 74 

VIII.  HECTOR  AND  ANDROMACH£,        ....        82 

IX.  THE  DUEL  OF  HECTOR  AND  AJAX,     ...        92 

X.  THE  BATTLE  ON  THE  PLAIN,       .        .        .        .103 

XI.  THE  EMBASSY  TO  ACHILLES,        .        .        .        .117 

XII.  THE  ADVENTURE  OF  ULYSSES  AND  DIOMED,      .       142 

XIII.  THE  VALIANT  DEEDS  OF  AGAMEMNON,       .        .       151 

XIV.  THE  WOUNDING  OF  THE  CHIEFS,        .        .        .157 
XV.  THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  WALL,  168 

XVI.  THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  SHIPS,  .  .  .  .178 
XVII.  THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  SHIPS  (continued],  .  .  190 
XVIII.  THE  DEEDS  AND  DEATH  OF  PATROCLUS,  .  .  203 


vi  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

XIX.  THE  ROUSING  OF  ACHILLES,  ....  214 

XX.  THE  MAKING  OF  THE  ARMS,  .        .        .        .  224 

XXI.  THE  ENDING  OF  THE  STRIFE,  .        .        .        .  231 

XXII.  THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  RIVER,  ....  237 

XXIII.  THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  GODS,  ....  244 

XXIV.  THE  SLAYING  OF  HECTOR,  ....  257 

XXV.  THE  BURNING  OF  PATROCLUS,  ....  274 

i 

XXVI.  THE  RANSOMING  OF  HECTOR,  .        .        .        .295 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 
THE  GODS  DESCENDING  TO  BATTLE,      .  .  .  Frontispiece 

ATHENE  SUPPRESSING  THE  FURY  OF  ACHILLES,  IO 

DIOMED  CASTING  HIS  SPEAR  AGAINST  ARES,            .            .  70 

HECTOR  CHIDING  PARIS, 84 

THE  MEETING  OF  HECTOR  AND  ANDROMACHE,     ...  88 

HECTOR  AND  AJAX  SEPARATED  BY  THE  HERAI  DS,           .            .  IOO 

HERtf  AND  ATHENE  GOING  TO  ASSIST  THE  GREEKS,       .            .  112 

THE  EMBASSY  TO  ACHILLES, 122 

DIOMED    AND    ULYSSES    RETURNING    WITH    THE    SPOILS    OF 

RHESUS,          .  -  .  .        •     .  .  .  '.  .148 

POLYHAMUS     ADVISING     HECTOR     TO     RETIRE     FROM     THE 

TRENCH, 170 

AJAX  DEFENDING  THE  GREEK  SHIPS  AGAINST  THE  TROJANS,  2OO 

SLEEP    AND    DEATH    CONVEYING    THE    BODY    OF    SARPEDON 

TO  LYCIA, 210 

THE  FIGHT  FOR  THE  BODY  OF  PATROCLUS,         .        .        .  214 

THETIS  BRINGING  THE  ARMOUR  TO  ACHILLES,    .         .         .  228 

HECTOR'S  BODY  DRAGGED  AT  THE  CHARIOT  OF  ACHILLES,  .  264 

ANDROMACHE  FAINTING  ON  THE  WALL,     ....  268 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

CHAPTER    I. 

OF  WHAT   BEFELL  BEFORE  THE  QUARREL. 

LEDA,  the  wife  of  Tyndareus,  King  of 
Sparta,  bare  a  daughter,  Helen  by  name,  that 
grew  to  be  the  fairest  of  all  women  upon  earth. 
She  married  Menelaiis,  son  of  Atreus,  and  for 
a  while  dwelt  in  peace  with  her  husband,  bear- 
ing him  a  daughter,  Hermione  by  name.  But 
there  came  to  the  court  of  Menelaiis,  who  was 
by  this  time  King  of  Sparta,  a  certain  Paris, 
second  in  birth  among  the  sons  of  Priam,  King 
of  Troy.  Him  did  Menelaiis  hospitably  enter- 
tain, but  Paris  repaid  his  kindness  with  evil, 
for  he  carried  off  his  wife,  the  fair  Helen,  and 
took  with  her  many  of  the  King's  possessions. 

Then  Menelaiis,  with  his  elder  brother 
Agamemnon,  who  was  over-lord  of  all  the 

A 


2  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

Greeks,  went  to  all  the  chiefs,  and  prayed  that 
they  would  help  them  to  avenge  this  wrong. 
Thus  was  a  great  host  gathered  together,  even 
a  hundred  thousand  men,  and  eleven  hundred 
iourscore  and  six  ships.  At  Aulis  in  Euboea 
was  their  gathering ;  and  from  Aulis  they 
crossed  over  to  Troy. 

The  great  chiefs  of  the  host  were  these :  — 

First  the  two  brothers,  the  sons  of  Atreus. 

Next  Diomed,  the  son  of  Tydeus,  and  with 
him  Sthenelus. 

Nestor,  son  of  Neleus,  who  had  outlived 
three  generations  of  mortal  men. 

Ulysses,  son  of  Laertes,  from  Ithaca. 

Thoas  the  ^tolian. 

Idomeneus,  King  of  Crete,  and  Meriones 
with  him. 

Tlepolemus,  son  of  Hercules,  from  Rhodes. 

Eumelus,  son  of  Admetus  and  Alcestis,  from 
Thessaly. 

And,  bravest  and  strongest  of  all,  Achilles, 
and  with  him  Patroclus. 

For  nine  years  did  the  Greeks  besiege  the 
city  of  Troy.  They  prevailed,  indeed,  in  the 
field,  but  could  not  break  through  the  walls. 


OF  WHAT  BEFELL  BEFORE  THE  QUARREL.     3 

Now  because  they  had  been  away  from  their 
homes  for  many  years,  they  were  in  want  of 
things  needful.  Therefore  it  was  their  custom 
to  leave  part  of  the  army  to  watch  the  city, 
and  with  part  to  spoil  the  cities  in  the  coun- 
try round  about.  And  in  this  way  the  great 
quarrel  that  caused  such  trouble  to  the  host 
came  about. 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 


CHAPTER    II. 

THE     QUARREL. 

THE  Greeks  sacked  the  city  of  Chryse, 
where  was  a  temple  of  Apollo,  and  a  priest 
that  served  the  temple.  And  when  they 
divided  the  spoil,  they  gave  to  King  Aga- 
memnon, with  other  gifts,  the  priest's  daughter 
Chrysei's.  Thereupon  there  came  to  the  camp 
Chryses,  the  priest,  wishing  to  ransom  his 
daughter.  Much  gold  he  brought  with  him, 
and  on  his  staff  of  gold  he  carried  the  holy 
garland,  that  men  might  reverence  him  the 
more.  He  went  to  all  the  chiefs,  and  to  the 
sons  of  Atreus  first  of  all,  saying :  — 

"  Loose,  I  pray  you,  my  dear  daughter,  and 
take  the  ransom  for  her;  so  may  the  gods  that 
dwell  in  Olympus  grant  you  to  take  the  city  of 
Troy,  and  to  have  safe  return  to  your  homes." 

Then  all  the  others  spake  him  fair,  and 
would  have  done  what  he  wished.  Only  Aga- 
memnon would  not  have  it  so. 


THE  QUARREL.  5 

"  Get  thee  out,  graybeard ! "  he  cried  in 
great  wrath.  "  Let  me  not  find  thee  linger- 
ing now  by  the  ships,  neither  coming  hither 
again,  or  it  shall  be  the  worse  for  thee,  for  all 
thy  priesthood.  And  as  for  thy  daughter,  I 
shall  carry  her  away  to  Argos,  when  I  shall 
have  taken  this  city  of  Troy." 

Then  the  old  man  went  out  hastily  in  great 
fear  and  trouble.  And  he  walked  in  his  sorrow 
by  the  shore  of  the  sounding  sea,  and  prayed 
to  his  god  Apollo. 

"  Hear  me,  God  of  the  silver  bow !  If  I  have 
built  thee  a  temple,  and  offered  thee  the  fat 
of  many  bullocks  and  rams,  hear  me,  and 
avenge  my  tears  on  these  Greeks  with  thine 
arrows ! " 

And  Apollo  heard  him.  Wroth  was  he  that 
men  had  so  dishonoured  his  priest,  and  he 
came  down  from  the  top  of  Olympus,  where 
he  dwelt.  Dreadful  was  the  rattle  of  his  arrows 
as  he  went,  and  his  coming  was  as  the  night 
when  it  cometh  over  the  sky.  Then  he  shot 
the  arrows  of  death,  first  on  the  dogs  and  the 
mules,  and  then  on  the  men ;  and  soon  all 
along  the  shore  rolled  the  black  smoke  from 


6  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

the  piles  of  wood  on  which  they  burnt  the 
bodies  of  the  dead. 

For  nine  days  the  shafts  of  the  god  went 
throughout  the  host ;  but  on  the  tenth  day 
Achilles  called  the  people  to  an  assembly.  So 
Hera  bade  him,  for  she  loved  the  Greeks,  and 
grieved  to  see  them  die.  When  they  were, 
gathered  together  he  stood  up  among  them, 
and  spake  to  Agamemnon. 

"  Surely  it  were  better  to  return  home,  than 
that  we  should  all  perish  here  by  war  or 
plague.  But  come,  let  us  ask  some  prophet, 
or  priest,  or  dreamer  of  dreams,  why  it  is  that 
Apollo  is  so  wroth  with  us." 

Then  stood  up  Calchas,  best  of  seers,  who 
knew  what  had  been,  and  what  was,  and  what 
was  to  come,  and  spake. 

"Achilles,  thou  biddest  me  tell  the  people 
why  Apollo  is  wroth  with  them.  Lo !  I  will 
tell  thee,  but  thou  must  first  swear  to  stand  by 
me,  for  I  know  that  what  I  shall  say  will  anger 
King  Agamemnon,  and  it  goes  ill  with  common 
men  when  kings  are  angry." 

"  Speak  out,  thou  wise  man  !  "  cried  Achilles ; 
u  for  I  swear  by  Apollo  that  while  I  live  no  one 


THE  QUARREL.  7 

shall  lay  hands  on  thee,  no,  not  Agamemnon's 
self,  though  he  be  sovereign  lord  of  the  Greeks." 

Then  the  blameless  seer  took  heart,  and 
spake :  "  It  is  not  for  vow  or  offering  that 
Apollo  is  wroth ;  it  is  for  his  servant  the 
priest,  for  he  came  to  ransom  his  daughter,  but 
Agamemnon  scorned  him,  and  would  not  let 
the  maiden  go.  Now,  then,  ye  must  send  her 
back  to  Chryse  without  ransom,  and  with  her 
a  hundred  beasts  for  sacrifice,  so  that  the  plague 
may  be  stayed." 

Then  Agamemnon  stood  up  in  a  fury,  his 
eyes  blazing  like  fire. 

"  Never,"  he  cried,  "  hast  thou  spoken  good 
concerning  me,  ill  prophet  that  thou  art,  and 
now  thou  tellest  me  to  give  up  this  maiden !  I 
will  do  it,  for  I  would  not  that  the  people  should 
perish.  Only  take  care,  ye  Greeks,  that  there 
be  a  share  of  the  spoil  for  me,  for  it  would  ill 
beseem  the  lord  of  all  the  host  that  he  alone 
should  be  without  his  share." 

"  Nay,  my  lord  Agamemnon,"  cried  Achilles, 
"thou  art  too  eager  for  gain.  We  have  no 
treasures  out  of  which  we  may  make  up  thy 
loss,  for  what  we  got  out  of  the  towns  we  have 


8  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

either  sold  or  divided ;  nor  would  it  be  fitting 
that  the  people  should  give  back  what  has  been 
given  to  them.  Give  up  the  maiden,  then,  with- 
out conditions,  and  when  we  shall  have  taken 
this  city  of  Troy,  we  will  repay  thee  three  and 
four  fold." 

"Nay,  great  Achilles,"  said  Agamemnon, 
"  thou  shalt  not  cheat  me  thus.  If  the  Greeks 
will  give  me  such  a  share  as  I  should  have,  well 
and  good.  But  if  not,  I  will  take  one  for  my- 
self, whether  it  be  from  thee,  or  from  Ajax,  or 
from  Ulysses ;  for  my  share  I  will  have.  But 
of  this  hereafter.  Now  let  us  see  that  this 
maiden  be  sent  back.  Let  them  get  ready 
a  ship,  and  put  her  therein,  and  with  her  a 
hundred  victims,  and  let  some  chief  go  with  the 
ship,  and  see  that  all  things  be  rightly  done." 

Then  cried  Achilles,  and  his  face  was  black 
as  a  thunder-storm :  "  Surely  thou  art  altogether 
shameless  and  greedy,  and,  in  truth,  an  ill  ruler 
of  men.  No  quarrel  have  I  with  the  Trojans. 
They  never  harried  oxen  or  sheep  of  mine  in 
fertile  Phthia,  for  many  murky  mountains  lie 
between,  and  a  great  breadth  of  roaring  sea. 
But  I  have  been  fighting  in  thy  cause,  and  that 


THE  QUARREL.  9 

of  thy  brother  Menelaiis.  Naught  carest  thou 
for  that.  Thou  leavest  me  to  fight,  and  sittest 
in  thy  tent  at  ease.  But  when  the  spoil  is 
divided,  thine  is  always  the  lion's  share.  Small 
indeed  is  my  part  —  *  a  little  thing,  but  dear.' 
And  this,  forsooth,  thou  wilt  take  away !  Now 
am  I  resolved  to  go  home.  I  have  no  mind  to 
heap  up  goods  and  gold  for  thee,  and  be  myself 
dishonoured." 

And  King  Agamemnon  answered:  "  Go,  and 
thy  Myrmidons  with  thee !  I  have  other  chief- 
tains as  good  as  thou  art,  and  ready,  as  thou  art 
not,  to  pay  me  due  respect ;  and  Zeus,  the  god 
of  council,  is  with  me.  I  hate  thee,  for  thou 
always  lovest  war  and  strife.  And  as  for  the 
matter  of  the  spoil,  know  that  I  will  take  thy 
share,  the  girl  Brisei's,  and  fetch  her  myself,  if 
need  be,  that  all  may  know  that  I  am  sovereign 
lord  here  in  the  host  of  the  Greeks." 

Then  Achilles  was  mad  with  anger,  and  he 
thought  in  his  heart,  "  Shall  I  arise  and  slay 
this  caitiff,  or  shall  I  keep  down  the  wrath  in 
my  breast  ?  "  And  as  he  thought  he  laid  his 
hand  on  his  sword-hilt,  and  had  half  drawn  his 
sword  from  the  scabbard,  when  lo  !  the  goddess 


10  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

Athene  stood  behind  him  (for  Hera,  who  loved 
both  this  chieftain  and  that,  had  sent  her),  and 
caught  him  by  the  long  locks  of  his  yellow  hair. 
But  Achilles  marvelled  much  to  feel  the  mighty 
grasp,  and  turned,  and  looked,  and  knew  the 
goddess,  but  no  one  else  in  the  assembly  might 
see  her.  Terrible  was  the  flash  of  his  eyes  as 
he  cried:  "Art  thou  come,  child  of  Zeus,  to 
see  the  insolence  of  Agamemnon  ?  Of  a  truth, 
I  think  that  he  will  perish  for  his  folly." 

But  Athene  said :  "  Nay,  but  I  am  come 
from  heaven  to  abate  thy  wrath,  if  thou  wilt 
hear  me ;  white-armed  Hera  sent  me,  for  she 
loveth  and  cherisheth  you  both  alike.  Draw 
not  thy  sword ;  but  use  bitter  words,  even  as 
thou  wilt.  Of  a  truth,  I  tell  thee  that  for  this 
insolence  of  to-day  he  will  bring  thee  hereafter 
splendid  gifts,  threefold  and  fourfold  for  all 
that  he  may  take  away.  Only  refrain  thyself 
and  do  my  bidding." 

Then  Achilles  answered :  "  I  will  abide  by 
thy  command  for  all  my  wrath,  for  the  man 
who  hearkens  to  the  immortal  gods  is  also 
heard  of  them."  And  as  he  spake  he  laid 
his  heavy  hand  upon  the  hilt,  and  thrust  back 


THE  QUARREL.  II 

the  sword  into  the  scabbard,  and  Athene  went 
her  way  to  Olympus. 

Then  he  turned  him  to  King  Agamemnon, 
and  spake  again,  for  his  anger  was  not  spent : 
"  Drunkard,  with  the  eyes  of  a  dog  and  the 
heart  of  a  deer!  never  fighting  in  the  front 
of  the  battle,  nor  daring  to  lie  in  the  ambush  ! 
'Tis  a  race  of  dastards  that  thou  rulest,  or  this 
had  been  thy  last  wrong.  But  this  I  tell  thee, 
and  confirm  my  words  with  a  mighty  oath  — 
by  this  sceptre  do  I  swear.  Once  it  was  the 
branch  of  a  tree,  but  now  the  sons  of  the 
Greeks  bear  it  in  their  hands,  even  they  who 
maintain  the  laws  of  Zeus ;  as  surely  as  it  shall 
never  again  have  bark,  or  leaves,  or  shoot,  so 
surely  shall  the  Greeks  one  day  miss  Achilles, 
when  they  fall  in  heaps  before  the  dreadful 
Hector ;  and  thou  shalt  eat  thy  heart  for  rage, 
to  think  that  thou  hast  wronged  the  bravest  of 
thy  host." 

And  as  he  spake  he  dashed  the  sceptre,  all 
embossed  with  studs  of  gold,  upon  the  ground, 
and  sat  down.  And  on  the  other  side  Aga- 
memnon sat  in  furious  anger.  Then  Nestor 
rose,  an  old  man  of  a  hundred  years  and  more, 


12  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

and  counselled  peace.  Let  them  listen,  he 
said,  to  his  counsel.  Great  chiefs  in  the  old 
days,  with  whom  no  man  now  alive  would  dare 
to  fight,  had  listened.  Let  not  Agamemnon 
take  away  from  the  bravest  of  the  Greeks  the 
prize  of  war;  let  not  Achilles,  though  he  was 
mightier  in  battle  than  all  other  men,  contend 
with  Agamemnon,  who  was  sovereign  lord  of 
all  the  hosts  of  Greece.  But  he  spake  in  vain. 
For  Agamemnon  answered  :  — 

"  Nestor,  thou  speakest  well,  and  peace  is 
good.  But  this  fellow  would  lord  it  over  all ; 
yet  there  are  some,  methinks,  who  will  not 
obey  him.  For  if  the  immortal  gods  have 
made  him  a  great  warrior,  do  they  therefore 
grant  him  leave  to  speak  lawless  words  ?  Ver- 
ily he  must  be  taught  that  there  is  one  here, 
at  least,  who  is  better  than  he." 

And  Achilles  said :  "  I  were  a  slave  and  a 
coward  if  I  owned  thee  as  my  lord.  Not  so : 
play  the  master  over  others,  but  think  not 
to  master  me.  As  for  the  prize  which  the 
Greeks  gave  me,  let  them  do  as  they  will. 
They  gave  it ;  let  them  take  it  away.  But  if 
thou  darest  to  touch  aught  that  is  mine  own, 


THE  QUARREL.  13 

that  hour  thy  life-blood  shall  redden  on  my 
spear." 

Then  the  assembly  was  dismissed.  Chrysei's 
was  sent  to  her  home  with  due  offerings  to  the 
god,  the  wise  Ulysses  going  with  her.  And  all 
the  people  purified  themselves,  and  offered 
offerings  to  the  gods;  and  the  sweet  savour 
went  up  to  heaven  in  the  wreathing  smoke. 

But  King  Agamemnon  would  not  go  back 
from  his  purpose.  So  he  called  to  him  the 
heralds,  Talthybius  and  Eurybates,  and  said  :  — 

"  Heralds,  go  to  the  tents  of  Achilles,  and 
fetch  the  maiden  Brisei's.  But  if  he  will  not 
let  her  go,  say  that  I  will  come  myself  with 
many  others  to  fetch  her;  so  will  it  be  the 
worse  for  him." 

Sorely  against  their  will  the  heralds  went. 
Along  the  seashore  they  walked,  till  they  came 
to  where,  amidst  the  Myrmidons,  were  the  tents 
of  Achilles.  There  they  found  him,  sitting 
between  his  tent  and  his  ship.  He  did  not 
rejoice  to  see  them,  and  they  stood  in  great 
terror  and  shame.  But  he  knew  in  his  heart 
wherefore  they  had  come,  and  cried  aloud: 
"  Come  near,  ye  heralds,  messengers  of  gods 


14  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

and  men.  Tis  no  fault  of  yours  that  ye  are 
come  on  such  an  errand." 

Then  he  turned  to  Patroclus  (now  Patroclus 
was  his  dearest  friend)  and  said :  "  Bring  the 
maiden  from  her  tent,  and  let  the  heralds  lead 
her  away.  But  let  them  be  witnesses,  before 
gods  and  men,  and  before  this  evil-minded 
King,  against  the  day  when  he  shall  have  sore 
need  of  me  to  save  his  host  from  destruction. 
Fool  that  he  is,  who  knoweth  not  to  look  back 
and  to  look  forward,  that  his  people  may  be 
safe!" 

Then  Patroclus  brought  forth  the  maiden 
from  her  tent,  and  gave  her  to  the  heralds. 
And  they  led  her  away;  but  it  was  sorely 
against  her  will  that  she  went.  But  Achilles 
went  apart  from  his  comrades,  and  sat  upon 
the  seashore,  falling  into  a  great  passion  of 
tears,  and  stretching  out  his  hands  with  loud 
prayer  to  his  mother,  Thetis,  daughter  of  the 
sea.  She  heard  him  where  she  sat  in  the 
depths  by  her  father,  the  old  god  of  the  sea, 
and  rose  from  the  gray  sea,  as  a  vapour  rises, 
and  came  to  where  he  sat  weeping,  and  stroked 
him  with  her  hand,  and  called  him  by  his  name. 


THE  QUARREL.  15 

"  What  ails  thee,  my  son  ?  "  she  said. 

Then  he  told  her  the  story  of  his  wrong,  and 
when  he  had  ended  he  said :  — 

"Go,  I  pray  thee,  to  the  top  of  Olympus,  to 
the  palace  of  Zeus.  Often  have  I  heard  thee 
in  my  father's  hall,  boast  how,  long  ago,  thou 
didst  help  him  when  the  other  gods  would 
have  bound  him,  fetching  Briareus  of  the  hun- 
dred hand  ,  who  sat  by  him  in  his  strength,  so 
that  the  gods  feared  to  touch  him.  Go  now, 
and  call  these  things  to  his  mind,  and  pray  him 
that  he  help  the  sons  of  Troy,  and  give  them 
victory  in  the  battle,  so  that  the  Greeks,  as 
they  flee  before  them,  may  have  joy  of  this 
king  of  theirs,  who  has  done  such  wrong  to  the 
bravest  <~i  his  host." 

And  his  mother  answered  him:  "Surely 
thine  is  an  evil  lot,  my  son.  Thy  life  is  short, 
and  it  should  of  right  be  without  tears  and  full 
of  joy;  but  now  it  seems  to  me  to  be  both 
short  and  sad.  But  I  will  go  as  thou  sayest  to 
Olympus,  to  the  palace  of  Zeus ;  but  not  now, 
for  he  has  gone,  and  the  other  gods  with  him, 
to  a  twelve  days'  feast  with  the  pious  Ethio- 
pians. But  when  he  comes  back  I  will  entreat 


16  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

and  persuade  him.  And  do  thou  sit  still,  nor 
go  forth  to  battle." 

Meanwhile  Ulysses  drew  near  to  Chryse 
with  the  holy  offerings.  And  when  they  were 
come  within  the  haven,  they  furled  the  sail, 
and  laid  it  in  the  ship,  and  lowered  the  mast, 
and  rowed  the  ship  to  her  moorings.  They 
cast  out  the  anchor  stones,  and  made  fast  the 
cables  from  the  stern.  After  that  they  landed, 
taking  with  them  the  offerings  and  the  maid 
Chrysei's.  To  the  altar  they  brought  the  maid, 
and  gave  her  into  the  arms  of  her  father,  and 
the  wise  Ulysses  said :  "  See  now ;  Agamemnon, 
King  of  men,  sends  back  thy  daughter,  and 
with  her  a  hundred  beasts  for  sacrifice,  that 
we  may  appease  the  god  who  hath  smitten 
the  Greeks  in  his  wrath." 

Then  the  priest  received  his  daughter  right 
gladly,  and  when  they  had  ranged  the  beasts 
about  the  altar,  and  poured  out  the  water  of 
purification,  and  took  up  handfuls  of  bruised 
barley,  then  the  priest  prayed,  "  Hear  me,  God 
of  the  silver  bow !  If  before  thou  didst  hearken 
to  my  prayer,  and  grievously  afflict  the  Greeks, 
so  hear  me  now,  and  stay  this  plague  which  is 
come  upon  them," 


THE  QUARREL.  I? 

So  prayed  he,  and  the  god  gave  ear. 

Then  they  cast  the  barley  on  the  heads  of 
the  cattle,  and  slew  them,  and  flayed  them, 
and  they  cut  out  the  thigh-bones  and  wrapped 
them  up  in  folds  of  fat,  and  laid  raw  morsels 
on  them.  These  the  priest  burned  on  fagots, 
pouring  on  sparkling  wine;  and  the  young 
men  stood  by,  having  the  five-pronged  forks 
in  their  hands.  And  when  the  thighs  were 
consumed,  then  they  cut  up  the  rest,  and 
broiled  the  pieces  carefully  on  spits.  This 
being  done,  they  made  their  meal,  nor  did  any 
one  lack  his  share.  And  when  the  meal  was 
ended,  then  they  poured  a  little  wine  into  the 
cups  to  serve  for  libations  to  the  gods.  After 
that  they  sat  till  sunset,  singing  a  hymn  to  the 
Archer  God,  and  making  merry;  and  he  heard 
their  voice  and  was  pleased. 

When  the  sun  went  down  they  slept  beside 
the  stern-cables ;  and  when  the  dawn  appeared 
then  they  embarked,  raising  the  mast  and 
spreading  the  sail ;  and  Apollo  sent  them  a 
favouring  wind,  and  the  dark  blue  wave  hissed 
about  the  stem  of  the  ship  as  she  went :  so 
they  came  to  the  camp  of  the  Greeks. 

B 


1 8  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

But  all  the  time  Achilles  sat  in  wrath  beside 
his  ships  ;  he  went  not  to  the  war,  nor  yet  to 
the  assembly,  but  sat  fretting  in  his  heart, 
because  he  longed  for  the  cry  of  the  battle. 


1HE  ASSEMBLY.  IQ 


CHAPTER   III. 

THE    ASSEMBLY. 

WHEN  the  twelfth  day  was  come,  Thetis  rose 
out  of  the  sea,  and  went  to  high  Olympus. 
There  she  found  Zeus  sitting  apart  on  the 
topmost  peak  of  Olympus,  and  she  knelt 
down  before  him ;  with  her  left  hand  she 
clasped  his  knees,  and  with  her  right  she  took 
his  beard,  and  she  made  her  supplication  to 
him. 

"  O  Father  Zeus,  if  ever  I  have  aided  thee 
by  word  or  deed,  fulfil  now  my  prayer.  Give 
honour,  I  beseech  thee,  to  Achilles  my  son, 
that  hath  so  short  a  space  of  life  ;  for  now 
Agamemnon  hath  put  dishonour  upon  him, 
taking  away  the  gift  that  the  Greeks  gave  him. 
Grant,  therefore,  that  the  men  of  Troy  may 
prevail  for  a  while,  so  that  the  Greeks  may  do 
honour  to  my  son." 

So  she  spake,  but  Zeus  sate  long  time  si- 
lent ;  but  Thetis  would  not  loose  her  hold. 


20  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

Then  she  spake  again :  "  Give  me  now  thy 
promise,  and  confirm  it  with  a  nod,  or  else 
deny  me.  So  shall  I  know  that  I  am  held 
least  in  honour  of  all  the  gods." 

Then  Zeus  made  answer  much  disturbed: 
"  This  is  a  hard  matter,  for  thou  wilt  set  me  at 
strife  with  Hera,  and  she  will  upbraid  me  with 
bitter  words.  Even  now  she  is  ever  reproach- 
ing me,  saying  that  I  favour  the  men  of  Troy 
in  the  battle.  Therefore  do  thou  get  thee 
away,  that  she  know  not  of  thy  coming ;  and 
I  will  consider  how  this  thing  may  be  best 
accomplished.  And  now  I  will  assure  my 
promise  with  a  nod ;  for  when  I  give  my  nod, 
then  the  thing  may  not  be  repented  of  or  left 
undone." 

So  he  spake,  and  nodded  with  his  dark 
brows,  and  the  hair  waved  about  his  head,  and 
all  Olympus  was  shaken. 

Then  Thetis  departed,  diving  into  the  deep 
sea,  and  Zeus  went  to  his  own  house,  and  all 
the  gods  rose  up  before  him.  And  when  he 
sat  upon  his  chair,  then  Hera,  knowing  that 
Thetis  of  the  silver  feet  had  held  counsel  with 
him,  addressed  him  with  bitter  words, 


THE  ASSEMBLY.  21 

"  Who  hath  been  in  counsel  with  thee,  thou 
plotter  ?  Thou  dost  always  take  pleasure, 
when  I  am  absent,  in  secret  devices,  and  never 
tellest  thy  thought  to  me  freely." 

To  her  the  sire  of  gods  and  men  made 
reply:  "Hera,  think  not  to  know  all  my 
thoughts;  that  were  too  hard  for  thee,  even 
though  thou  art  my  wife.  That  which  is  fit- 
ting thou  shalt  hear  first ;  but  into  such  coun- 
sel as  I  take  by  myself  inquire  thou  not." 

Hera  answered :  "  What  sayest  thou  ?  I 
have  not  pried  into  thy  counsels.  These  thou 
devisest  as  thou  wilt.  And  now  I  sorely  fear 
that  Thetis  of  the  silver  feet  hath  prevailed 
with  thee.  At  dawn  of  day  I  saw  her  kneel- 
ing before  thee ;  thou  hast  granted,  I  doubt 
not,  that  Achilles  shall  have  honour,  and  that 
many  of  the  Greeks  shall  die  beside  their 
ships." 

To  this  Zeus  made  reply :  "  Verily  nought 
escapeth  thee,  thou  witch.  If  it  be  as  thou 
sayest,  such  is  my  will.  Do  thou  sit  silent, 
and  obey.  Else  all  the  gods  in  Olympus  shall 
not  save  thee,  when  I  lay  upon  thee  the  hands 
that  none  may  stay." 


22  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

Then  Hera  was  afraid,  and  held  her  peace, 
and  all  the  gods  were  troubled.  But  Hephaes- 
tus the  craftsman  spake,  saying :  "  This  indeed 
will  be  a  grievous  business,  if  ye  two  come  to 
strife  for  the  sake  of  mortal  men,  and  make 
trouble  among  the  gods.  If  such  ill  counsels 
prevail,  what  pleasure  shall  we  have  in  our 
feasting  ?  Now  will  I  advise  my  mother  that 
she  make  peace  with  Zeus,  lest  he  rebuke  her 
again.  Were  he  minded  to  hurl  her  from 
these  seats,  who  should  withstand  him  ?  " 

Thereupon  he  put  the  double-handled  cup 
into  his  mother's  hand,  and  said :  "  Have  pa- 
tience, mother,  for  all  that  thou  art  vexed,  lest 
I  see  thee  beaten  before  mine  eyes.  I  could 
not  help  thee.  Once  before,  when  I  would 
have  succoured  thee,  he  grasped  me  by  the 
foot,  and  flung  me  from  the  threshold  of 
heaven.  All  day  I  fell,  and  at  sunset  I  lighted 
in  Lemnos." 

Then  Hera  smiled,  and  took  the  cup  from 
her  son.  And  he  went  round  to  all  the  gods, 
going  from  left  to  right  as  a  cupbearer  should, 
and  poured  the  nectar  from  the  mixing-bowl, 
and  laughter  without  end  was  woke  among  the 


THE  ASSEMBLY.  23 

blessed  gods,  when  they  saw  the  Haltfoot  go 
puffing  through  the  hall. 

So  they  feasted  in  the  hall,  lacking  neither 
the  lyre,  for  on  this  Apollo  played,  nor  sing- 
ing, for  the  Muses  sang  sweetly,  answering 
one  to  the  other. 

Gods  and  men  slept  that  night ;  but  Zeus 
slept  not,  for  he  thought  in  his  heart  how 
he  might  do  honour  to  Achilles.  And  as  he 
thought,  he  judged  it  best  to  send  a  deceiving 
dream  to  Agamemnon.  Therefore  he  said : 
"  Go,  deceiving  Dream,  to  the  swift  ships  of 
the  Greeks,  and  seek  the  tent  of  Agamemnon. 
Bid  him  make  haste  and  arm  the  Greeks,  for 
that  he  shall  of  a  surety  take  the  city  of 
Troy." 

So  the  dream  went  to  the  tent  of  Agamem- 
non, and  found  him  wrapped  in  sleep.  It  took 
the  shape  of  Nestor,  the  old  chief,  whom  the 
King  honoured  more  than  all  besides. 

Then  the  false  Nestor  spake :  "  Sleepest 
thou,  Agamemnon  ?  It  is  not  for  kings  to 
sleep  all  through  the  night,  for  they  must 
take  thought  for  many,  and  have  many  cares. 
Listen  now  to  the  words  of  Zeus :  '  Set  the 


24  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

battle  in  array  against  Troy,  for  the  gods  are 
now  of  one  mind,  and  the  day  of  doom  is  come 
for  the  city,  and  thou  shalt  take  it,  and  gain 
everlasting  glory  for  thyself.' " 

And  Agamemnon  believed  the  dream,  and 
knew  not  the  purpose  of  Zeus  in  bidding  him 
go  forth  to  battle,  how  that  the  Trojans  should 
win  the  day,  and  great  shame  should  come  to 
himself,  but  great  honour  to  Achilles,  when  all 
the  Greeks  should  pray  him  to  deliver  them 
from  death.  So  he  rose  from  his  bed,  and 
donned  his  tunic,  and  put  over  it  a  great  cloak, 
and  fastened  the  sandals  on  his  feet,  and  hung 
from  his  shoulders  his  mighty  silver-studded 
sword,  and  took  in  his  right  hand  the  great 
sceptre  of  his  house,  which  was  the  token  of 
his  sovereignty  over  all  the  Greeks. 

First  he  called  a  council  of  the  chiefs  by  the 
ship  of  King  Nestor ;  and  when  they  were 
seated,  he  said :  "  Hear  me,  my  friends.  This 
night  a  dream  came  to  me  in  my  sleep ;  most 
like  it  was  to  Nestor.  Above  my  head  it 
stood,  and  said :  '  Thou  sleepest,  son  of  Atreus. 
It  is  not  for  kings  to  sleep  all  through  the 
night.  Now  mark  my  word ;  I  come  to  thee 


THE  ASSEMBLY.  2$ 

from  Zeus,  who  careth  for  thee,  though  he  be 
far  away.  He  bids  thee  call  the  Greeks  to 
battle,  for  now  thou  shalt  take  the  city  of 
Troy.'  So  spake  the  Dream.  Come,  there- 
fore, let  us  rouse  the  Greeks ;  but  first  I  will 
try  their  spirit,  counselling  them  to  flee  to 
their  homes,  and  do  ye  dissuade  them." 

Then  up  rose  Nestor  in  his  place,  and  spake : 
"  Had  any  other  told  us  this  dream,  we  had 
thought  it  false ;  but  seeing  that  he  hath  seen 
it  who  is  chief  among  us,  let  us  call  the  people 
to  arms." 

Then  the  heralds  made  proclamation,  and 
the  people  hastened  to  their  places.  Even  as 
the  bees  swarm  from  a  hollow  rock  and  cluster 
about  the  flowers  of  spring,  and  some  fly  this 
way  and  some  that,  so  the  many  tribes  marched 
from  the  ships  and  the  tents  to  the  place  of  the 
assembly.  Great  was  the  confusion  and  great 
the  uproar,  and  nine  heralds  sought  to  quiet 
the  people,  that  they  might  listen  to  the  speak- 
ing of  the  Kings  ;  and  at  the  last  the  Greeks 
ceased  from  their  shouting,  and  sat  in  their 
places. 

To  them  Agamemnon  rose  up,  holding  the 


26  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

sceptre  in  his  hand,  and  spake  thus :  "  O  my 
friends,  ill  hath  Zeus  dealt  with  me.  He  prom- 
ised me  that  I  should  take  the  city  of  Troy,  and 
so  return  to  my  home.  But  his  words  were 
deceitful,  for  now  he  bids  me  go  back  to  Argos, 
inglorious,  having  lost  much  people.  Shame 
indeed  were  it  for  men  to  know  hereafter  that 
we  who  are  so  many  have  yet  fought  in  vain ; 
many  we  are,  and  we  fight  with  them  that  are 
fewer  than  ourselves,  and  yet  we  see  no  end. 
Verily,  if  the  Greeks  and  the  men  of  Troy 
should  make  a  truce  and  number  themselves, 
and  the  Greeks  should  be  ranked  in  tens,  and 
for  each  ten  should  take  a  man  of  Troy  to  pour 
the  wine,  verily,  I  say,  many  a  ten  would  lack 
a  cupbearer.  Fewer  indeed  by  far  are  the  Tro- 
jans, but  they  have  allies,  valiant  spearmen,  who 
hinder  me  from  taking  the  city.  And  now  nine 
years  have  passed,  and  the  timbers  of  our  ships 
are  rotted,  and  the  rigging  is  worn ;  and  our 
wives  and  our  children  sit  at  home  and  wait 
for  us.  Come,  therefore,  let  us  flee  to  the  land 
of  our  fathers,  for  Troy  we  may  not  take." 

So  spake  the  King,  and  stirred  the  hearts  of 
the  people;  that  is  to  say,  of  all  that  knew  not 


THE  ASSEMBLY.  27 

his  secret  counsel.  All  the  assembly  was  moved 
as  the  sea  is  moved,  when  the  east  wind  raiseth 
the  waves,  or  as  a  cornfield,  when  the  strong 
west  wind  comes  upon  it,  and  shakes  the  ears 
Shouting  they  hasted  to  the  ships,  and  laid 
hands  on  them  to  drag  them  down,  and  some 
made  clear  the  launching  channels,  and  drew 
the  shores  from  under  the  sides. 

Then  had  the  Greeks  returned,  even  though 
fate  willed  it  not.  But  Hera  spake  to  Athene : 
"Will  the  Greeks  thus  idly  flee  to  their 
homes  ?  and  will  they  leave  Helen  a  boast 
to  Priam  and  to  Troy,  Helen,  for  whom  so 
many  have  fallen  far  from  their  fatherland  ? 
Hasten  now,  and  turn  them  from  their  pur- 
pose." 

So  Athene  hastened  down  from  Olympus, 
and  she  found  Ulysses,  who  had  laid  no  hand 
upon  his  ship,  for  grief  had  touched  him  to  his 
heart.  To  him  she  said :  "  Son  of  Laertes, 
will  ye  indeed  flee  to  your  fatherland,  and  leave 
Helen,  for  whom  so  many  have  fallen,  to  be  a 
boast  to  Priam  and  the  men  of  Troy?  Go 
now,  and  dissuade  the  Greeks,  and  suffer  them 
not  to  drag  their  ships  to  the  sea." 


28  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

And  when  Ulysses  heard  the  voice  of  the 
goddess,  he  cast  away  his  cloak,  and  ran. 
King  Agamemnon  gave  him  his  sceptre,  and, 
bearing  that,  he  went  among  the  ships.  When 
he  saw  a  chief,  he  said  with  gentle  words, 
"  Hold,  sir,  it  ill  becomes  thee  to  be  a  coward ; 
sit  still  and  hold  the  people  back.  Thou 
knowest  not  the  mind  of  the  King;  he  did 
but  make  trial  of  the  spirit  of  the  Greeks. 
Anger  him  not,  lest  he  do  some  mischief  to 
the  people." 

But  when  he  saw  a  common  man,  he  smote 
him  with  his  sceptre,  and  said :  "  Fellow,  sit 
still,  and  listen  to  them  that  are  better  than 
thou.  Let  there  be  one  master,  one  king,  to 
whom  Zeus  has  given  authority." 

Thus  did  he  turn  them  from  their  purpose. 
And  they  hasted  again  to  the  assembly  with 
such  a  noise  as  when  a  wave  breaks  along  the 
shore. 

But,  when  all  the  rest  were  silent,  Thersites 
alone  flouted  and  jeered  the  princes,  that  he 
might  move  laughter  among  the  Greeks. 
Most  ill-favoured  was  he  of  all  that  came  to 
Troy,  bandy-legged,  and  halting  on  one  foot, 


THE  ASSEMBLY.  29 

with  a  hump  on  his  back,  narrow-chested,  and 
his  head  misshapen,  with  straggling  down 
thereon.  Loud  he  shouted  now,  reviling 
Agamemnon :  — 

"  What  lackest  thou  yet,  son  of  Atreus  ? 
Full  of  bronze  are  thy  tents,  and  many  the 
fair  women  whom  we  have  given  thee  for  a 
prey.  Wantest  thou  more  than  these  ?  Surely 
a  leader  of  men  should  not  bring  the  Greeks 
into  trouble.  And  ye,  who  are  women  rather 
than  men,  why  sail  ye  not  home,  and  leave  this 
man  to  gorge  himself  with  his  spoils  alone  ? 
For  now  he  hath  wronged  Achilles,  taking  away 
his  gift  —  Achilles,  who  is  far  better  than  he. 
Surely  Achilles  is  mild  of  temper,  or  this,  son 
of  Atreus,  had  been  thy  last  wrong-doing ! " 

Thereupon  Ulysses  rose  up  beside  him,  and 
spake  in  wrath :  "  Peace,  babbler ;  take  not  the 
name  of  kings  upon  thy  lips,  nor  taunt  thy  bet- 
ters. Hearken  now  to  me :  if  I  hear  thee  speak 
idle  words  again  as  thou  hast  done  this  day, 
surely  I  will  strip  from  off  thee  cloak  and 
tunic,  and  drive  thee  to  the  ships  with  shame- 
ful blows."  So  speaking,  he  smote  him  with 
the  sceptre  on  back  and  shoulders ;  and  a 


30  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

bloody  weal  rose  up  beneath  the  blow.  All 
dazed,  the  fellow  cowered  down  and  wiped 
away  his  tears. 

Merrily  laughed  the  others,  saying  one  to 
his  neighbour:  "Often  hath  Ulysses  done  well, 
but  never  better  than  now,  when  he  hath 
stopped  this  babbler's  tongue.  He  will  not 
rail  against  the  kings  again." 

Then  Ulysses  stood  up  to  speak,  holding  the 
sceptre  in  his  hand ;  and  Athene  stood  by  his 
side,  in  the  likeness  of  a  herald,  bidding  the 
people  keep  silence  that  all,  nearest  and  farthest 
alike,  might  hear  his  words. 

"Now,  O  King,"  he  said,  "the  Greeks  go 
about  to  shame  thee,  abiding  no  more  by  their 
promise  which  they  made  thee  coming  from 
Argos;  to  wit,  that  they  would  not  return  till 
they  had  taken  the  city  of  Troy.  Truly  there 
is  toil  enough  here  to  make  us  sick  of  heart 
and  wishful  to  return.  For  a  man  will  feel 
weary  if  he  be  kept  but  a  single  moon  from 
his  wife  by  winter  winds  and  stormy  sea,  and 
we  have  lingered  here  for  twelve  moons  nine 
times  told.  But  it  is  not  well  to  tarry  long 
and  come  back  empty-handed,  after  all.  Ye  all 


THE  ASSEMBLY.  3-1 

remember  —  all  whom  death  hath  not  carried 
away  —  what  befell  in  Aulis  when  the  host  was 
gathered  to  make  war  on  Troy,  and  we  were 
sacrificing  to  the  immortal  gods  under  a  fair 
plane  tree  by  a  spring, — ye  remember,  I  say, 
how  a  great  serpent,  fiery  red  and  horrible  to 
behold,  glided  from  beneath  the  altar,  and 
darted  to  the  tree.  There  on  the  topmost 
bough  was  a  sparrow's  brood,  crouching  be- 
neath the  leaves.  Eight  were  they  in  all,  and 
the  mother  was  the  ninth.  These  the  serpent 
devoured,  one  by  one,  twittering  piteously ; 
and  the  mother  flew  around,  crying  for  her 
children.  Her  last  he  caught  by  the  wing, 
twisting  himself  about.  And  when  he  had 
devoured  the  brood  and  the  mother,  the  god 
that  sent  him  made  the  sign  yet  more  manifest, 
turning  him  into  stone.  Then  Calchas  said,  as 
we  stood  wondering :  '  Why  are  ye  silent  ?  It 
is  to  us  this  portent  hath  been  sent.  As  the 
snake  hath  eaten  the  brood  of  eight  and  the 
mother  the  ninth,  so  for  nine  years  shall  we 
make  war  in  the  land  whither  we  go,  and  in 
the  tenth  we  shall  take  the  fair  city  of  Troy.' 
So  he  spake ;  and,  without  doubt,  his  words 


32  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

shall  be  fulfilled.  Remain,  therefore,  ye  Greeks, 
till  ye  have  taken  Priam's  mighty  town." 

So  he  spake,  and  all  the  Greeks  shouted  in 
assent ;  and  the  ships  sent  back  the  shout  as  it 
had  been  thunder. 

Then  King  Agamemnon  stood  up,  and  said : 
"  Go  now  to  your  meal,  and  afterwards  we  will 
join  the  battle.  Let  every  man  whet  well  his 
spear,  and  fit  his  shield,  and  feed  his  horses 
abundantly,  and  look  to  his  chariot,  that  all 
day  long  we  may  fight,  and  cease  not,  even  for 
a  little  space,  till,  haply,  night  shall  come  and 
separate  the  hosts.  Truly  the  band  of  the 
shield  shall  grow  wet,  and  the  hand  be  weary 
that  holdeth  the  spear,  and  the  horse  shall 
sweat  that  draweth  the  polished  car.  And 
whoso  holdeth  back  from  the  fight,  tarrying  at 
the  ships,  nothing  shall  save  him  from  feeding 
the  dogs  and  the  fowls  of  the  air." 

Then  the  Greeks  shouted  again.  Quickly 
did  they  scatter  themselves  among  the  ships 
and  the  tents,  and  make  their  meal.  And 
Agamemnon  made  a  feast,  and  called  thereto 
the  chiefs,  Nestor  and  Idomeneus,  and  Ajax 
the  Greater  and  Ajax  the  Less,  and  Diomed, 


THE  ASSEMBLY.  33 

and  Ulysses ;  but  Menelalis,  good  at  need,  came 
uncalled,  knowing  that  he  would  be  welcome. 

Then  King  Agamemnon  stood  up  and 
prayed :  "  O  Zeus,  let  not  the  sun  set  and  the 
darkness  fall  before  I  humble  Priam's  roof-tree 
in  the  dust,  and  burn  his  doors  with  fire,  and 
rend  the  coat  of  Hector  on  his  breast ! " 

So  he  prayed,  but  Zeus  hearkened  not  as  yet. 

And  when  the  feast  was  ended,  the  chiefs 
marshalled  their  hosts  for  the  battle ;  and 
Athene  in  the  midst  swept  through  the  host, 
urging  them  to  the  conflict;  and  in  every 
heart  she  roused  delight  of  battle,  so  that  there 
was  no  man  but  would  have  chosen  war  rather 
than  to  return  to  his  home.  As  is  the  flare  of 
a  great  fire  when  a  wood  is  burning  on  a  hill- 
top, so  was  the  flash  of  their  arms  and  their 
armour,  as  they  thronged  to  the  field.  And 
as  the  countless  flocks  of  wild  geese  or  cranes 
or  swans  now  wheel  and  now  settle  in  the 
great  Asian  fen  by  the  stream  of  Cayster,  or 
as  the  bees  swarm  in  the  spring,  when  the 
milk-pails  are  full,  so  thick  the  Greeks 
thronged  to  the  battle  in  the  great  plain  by 

the  banks  of  the  Scamander. 

c 


34  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

THE  DUEL  OF  PARIS  AND  MENELAUS. 

So  now  the  hosts  drew  near  to  battle.  With 
many  a  cry  the  men  of  Troy  came  on,  clamor- 
ous as  a  flock  of  cranes  when  they  fly  south- 
ward from  the  winter  and  the  rain.  But  the 
Greeks  marched  in  silence,  resolute  to  stand 
by  one  another  in  the  battle;  and  beneath 
their  feet  rose  up  a  great  cloud  of  dust,  thick 
as  the  mist  which  the  south  wind  brings  over 
the  mountain-tops  —  the  mist  which  the  shep- 
herd hateth,  but  the  thief  loveth  more  than 
night. 

They  were  now  about  to  fight,  when  from 
the  ranks  of  the  Trojans  Paris  rushed  forth. 
He  had  a  panther's  skin  over  his  shoulders,  and 
a  bow  and  a  sword,  and  in  either  hand  a  spear, 
and  he  called  aloud  to  the  Greeks  that  they 
should  send  forth  their  bravest  to  fight  with 
him.  But  when  Menelaiis  saw  him  he  was 
glad,  for  he  said  that  now  he  should  avenge 


THE  DUEL   OF  PARIS  AND  MENELAUS.       35 

himself  on  the  man  who  had  done  him  such 
wrong.  So  a  lion  is  glad  when,  being  sorely 
hungered,  he  finds  a  stag  or  a  wild  goat ;  he 
devours  it,  and  will  not  be  driven  from  it  by 
dogs  or  hunters.  He  leapt  from  his  chariot 
and  rushed  to  meet  his  enemy ;  but  Paris  was 
afraid  when  he  saw  Menelalis,  and  fled  back 
into  the  ranks  of  his  comrades,  just  as  a  man 
steps  back  in  haste  when  unawares  in  a  moun- 
tain glen  he  comes  upon  a  snake.  But  Hector 
saw  him,  and  rebuked  him :  "  Fair  art  thou  to 
look  upon,  Paris,  but  nothing  worth.  Surely 
the  Greeks  will  scorn  us  if  they  think  that 
thou  art  our  bravest  warrior,  because  thou 
art  of  stately  presence.  But  thou  art  a  cow- 
ard; and  yet  thou  daredst  to  go  across  the 
sea  and  carry  off  the  fair  Helen.  Why  dost 
thou  not  stand  and  abide  the  onset  of  her  hus- 
band, and  see  what  manner  of  man  he  is? 
Little,  I  ween,  would  thy  harp  and  thy  long 
locks  and  thy  fair  face  avail  when  thou  wert 
lying  in  the  dust !  A  craven  race  are  the  sons 
of  Troy,  or  they  would  have  stoned  thee  ere 
this." 

Then  Paris  answered  :  "  Thou  speakest  well, 


36  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

Hector,  and  thy  rebuke  is  just.  As  for  thee, 
thy  heart  is  like  iron,  ever  set  on  battle  ;  yet 
are  beauty  and  love  also  the  gifts  of  the  gods, 
and  not  to  be  despised.  But  now  set  Menelalis 
and  me  in  the  midst,  and  let  us  fight,  man  to 
man,  for  the  fair  Helen  and  for  all  her  posses- 
sions. And  if  he  prevail  over  me,  let  him  take 
her  and  them  and  depart,  and  the  Greeks  with 
him,  leaving  you  to  dwell  in  peace ;  but  if  I 
prevail  they  shall  depart  without  her." 

Then  Hector  was  glad,  and  going  before 
the  Trojan  ranks,  holding  his  spear  by  the 
middle,  he  kept  them  back.  But  the  Greeks 
would  have  shot  at  him  with  arrows  and  slung 
stones,  only  Agamemnon  cried  aloud  and  said, 
"  Hold,  Hector  has  somewhat  to  say  to  us." 

Then  Hector  said :  "  Hear,  Trojans  and 
Greeks,  what  Paris  saith,  Paris  who  hath  bred 
this  quarrel  between  us :  '  Let  all  besides  lay 
their  arms  upon  the  ground,  and  let  Menelaus 
and  me  fight  for  the  fair  Helen  and  all  her 
wealth.  And  let  him  that  is  the  better  keep 
her  and  them,  but  the  rest  shall  swear  faith 
and  friendship.' ' 

Then  Menelaus  stood  up  and  spake:  "Listen 


THE  DUEL   OF  PARIS  AND  MENELAUS.       37 

to  me,  for  this  trouble  toucheth  me  nearer  than 
you  all.  The  Greeks  and  the  men  of  Troy 
would  fain,  I  think,  be  at  peace,  for  they  have 
suffered  grievous  things  because  of  my  quarrel 
and  of  the  wrong  that  Paris  did.  Therefore 
we  two  will  fight  together,  and  let  him  perish 
that  is  doomed  to  die.  Bring  two  sheep,  ye 
men  of  Troy,  a  white  wether  for  the  sun,  and 
a  black  ewe  for  the  earth,  and  we  will  bring 
another  for  Zeus.  And  because  the  sons  of 
Priam  are  high-handed  and  light  of  faith,  let 
Priam  himself  come,  and  do  sacrifice,  and  take 
the  oath.  Young  men  are  ever  changeable ; 
but  when  an  old  man  is  among  them,  he 
taketh  thought  for  all." 

So  spake  Menelalis ;  and  both  the  armies 
were  glad,  hoping  to  see  an  end  of  doleful  war. 

Then  Hector  sent  a  herald  to  the  city,  to 
summon  Priam  to  the  sacrifice  and  to  fetch 
the  sheep. 

And  while  he  went,  Iris,  in  the  guise  of 
Laodice,  fairest  of  the  daughters  of  Priam, 
came  to  Helen,  where  she  sat  in  her  hall, 
weaving  a  great  web  of  double  breadth  and 
dyed  with  purple,  whereon  she  had  wrought 


38  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

many  battles  of  the  Greeks  and  the  men  of 
Troy.  Iris  came  near  and  said :  "  Come,  dear 
sister,  and  behold  this  marvel.  Heretofore  the 
Greeks  and  the  men  of  Troy  have  fought  to- 
gether on  the  plain,  but  now  they  sit  in  peace, 
and  the  war  is  stayed ;  for  Paris  and  Menelaus 
are  to  fight  for  thee,  and  thou  shalt  be  the  wife 
of  him  that  shall  prevail." 

So  spake  the  goddess,  and  roused  in  Helen 
sweet  longing  for  her  former  spouse,  and  her 
city,  and  her  parents.  So  she  wrapped  herself 
in  white  apparel,  and  went  forth  from  her 
chamber,  weeping  the  while. 

Meanwhile  Priam  sat  on  the  wall  with  the 
old  men.  They  had  ceased  from  war,  but  in 
speech  they  were  to  be  admired;  they  were 
like  to  the  crickets  that  sit  upon  a  tree  in  the 
wood,  and  send  forth  a  thin,  sweet  voice.  And 
as  they  talked,  the  fair  Helen  came  near,  and 
they  said :  "  What  wonder  that  men  should 
suffer  much  for  such  a  woman,  for  indeed  she 
is  divinely  fair!  Yet  let  her  depart  in  the 
ships,  nor  bring  a  curse  on  us  and  our 
children." 

But  Priam  called  to  her:  "Come  near,  my 


THE  DUEL   OF  PARIS  AND  MENELAUS.       39 

daughter,  that  thou  mayest  see  him  that  was 
thy  husband,  and  thy  friends  and  kinsmen.  I 
find  no  fault  with  thee,  for  'tis  not  thou,  'tis  the 
gods  who  have  brought  about  all  this  trouble. 
But  tell  me,  who  is  this  warrior  that  I  see,  so 
fair  and  strong?  There  are  others  even  a 
head  taller  than  he,  but  none  of  such  majesty." 

And  Helen  answered :  "  Ah,  my  father !  I 
owe  thee  much  reverence;  yet  would  that  I 
had  died  before  I  left  husband  and  child  to 
follow  thy  son.  But  as  for  this  warrior,  he  is 
Agamemnon,  a  good  king  and  brave  soldier, 
and  my  brother-in-law  in  the  old  days." 

"  Happy  Agamemnon,"  said  Priam,  "  to  rule 
over  so  many  !  Never  saw  I  such  an  army 
gathered  together,  not  even  when  I  went  to 
help  the  Phrygians  when  they  were  assembled 
on  the  banks  of  the  Sangarus  against  the 
Amazons.  But  who  is  this  that  I  see,  not  so 
tall  as  Agamemnon,  but  of  broader  shoulders  ? 
His  arms  lie  upon  the  ground,  and  he  is 
walking  through  the  ranks  of  his  men  just 
as  some  great  ram  walks  through  a  flock  of 
sheep." 

"This,"  said   Helen,  "  is  Ulysses  of  Ithaca, 


40  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD, 

who  is  better  in  craft  and  counsel  than  all 
other  men." 

"  'Tis  well  spoken,  lady,"  said  Antenor. 
"  Well  I  remember  Ulysses  when  he  came 
hither  on  an  embassy  about  thee  with  the 
brave  Menelalis.  My  guests  they  were,  and 
I  knew  them  well.  And  I  remember  how,  in 
the  assembly  of  the  Trojans,  when  both  were 
standing,  Menelalis  was  the  taller,  but  when 
they  sat,  Ulysses  was  the  more  majestic  to 
behold.  And  when  they  rose  to  speak,  Mene- 
lalis said  few  words,  but  said  them  wisely  and 
well ;  and  Ulysses  —  you  had  thought  him  a 
fool,  so  stiffly  he  held  his  sceptre  and  so  down- 
cast were  his  eyes ;  but  as  soon  as  he  began, 
oh  !  the  mighty  voice,  and  the  words  thick  as 
the  falling  snow !  No  man  then  might  vie 
with  Ulysses,  nor  thought  we  any  more  of  his 
outward  appearance." 

Then  Priam  said,  "  Who  is  that  stalwart 
hero,  so  tall  and  strong,  overtopping  all  by 
head  and  shoulders  ?  " 

"  That,"  said  Helen,  "  is  mighty  Ajax,  the 
bulwark  of  the  Greeks.  And  next  to  him  is 
Idomeneus.  Often  has  Menelaus  had  him  as 


THE  DUEL    OF  PARIS  AND  MENELAUS.       41 

his  guest  in  the  old  days,  when  he  came  from 
Crete.  As  for  the  other  chiefs,  I  see  and 
could  name  them  all.  But  I  miss  my  own 
dear  brothers,  Castor,  tamer  of  horses,  and 
Pollux,  the  mighty  boxer.  Either  they  came 
not  from  Sparta,  or,  having  come,  shun  the 
meeting  of  men  for  shame  of  me." 

So  she  spake,  and  knew  not  that  they  were 
sleeping  their  last  sleep  far  away  in  their  dear 
fatherland. 

Meanwhile  the  heralds  were  bringing  the 
sheep  from  the  town,  and  wine  in  a  goatskin ; 
and  Idaeus,  the  herald,  carried  a  bowl  and 
golden  cups.  He  came  near  to  King  Priam, 
and  told  him  how  the  armies  called  for  him. 
So  he  went,  and  Antenor  with  him.  And  he, 
on  the  one  side,  for  the  Trojans,  and  King 
Agamemnon  for  the  Greeks,  made  a  covenant 
with  sacrifice  that  Paris  and  Menelalis  should 
fight  together,  and  that  the  fair  Helen,  with  all 
her  treasures,  should  go  with  him  who  should 
prevail. 

And  when  the  sacrifice  and  the  prayers 
were  ended,  King  Priam  said:  "I  will  go  back 
to  Troy,  for  I  could  not  endure  to  see  my  son 


42  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

fighting  with  Menelalis.  But  which  of  the  two 
is  doomed  to  death,  Zeus  and  the  immortal 
gods  only  know." 

So  he  spake  and  climbed  into  his  chariot 
and  took  the  reins ;  and  Antenor  stood  beside 
him ;  so  they  went  back  to  Troy  even  as  they 
came. 

And  afterwards  Hector  and  Ulysses  marked 
out  a  space  for  the  fight,  and  Hector  shook 
two  pebbles  in  a  helmet,  looking  away  as  he 
shook  them,  that  he  whose  pebble  leapt  forth 
the  first  should  be  the  first  to  throw  his  spear. 
And  it  so  befell  that  the  lot  of  Paris  leapt  forth 
first.  Then  the  two  warriors  armed  themselves, 
and  came  forth  into  the  space,  and  stood  over 
against  each  other,  brandishing  their  spears, 
with  hate  in  their  eyes.  Then  Paris  threw  his 
spear.  It  struck  the  shield  of  Menelalis,  but 
pierced  it  not,  for  the  spear  point  was  bent 
back.  Then  Menelalis  prayed  to  Zeus:  "  Grant, 
Father  Zeus,  that  I  may  avenge  myself  on  Paris, 
who  has  done  me  this  wrong ;  so  shall  men  in 
after  time  fear  to  do  wrong  to  their  host."  So 
speaking,  he  cast  his  long-shafted  spear.  It 
struck  the  shield  of  Paris  and  pierced  it  through, 


THE  DUEL   OF  PARIS  AND  MENELAUS.       43 

and  passed  through  the  corselet,  and  through 
the  tunic,  close  to  the  loin ;  but  Paris  shrank 
aside,  and  the  spear  wounded  him  not  Then 
Menelalis  drew  his  silver-studded  sword  and 
struck  a  mighty  blow  on  the  top  of  the  helmet 
of  Paris,  but  the  sword  broke  in  four  pieces  in 
his  hand.  Then  he  cried  in  his  wrath,  "  O 
Zeus,  most  mischief-loving  of  the  gods,  my 
spear  I  cast  in  vain,  and  now  my  sword  is 
broken."  Then  he  rushed  forward  and  seized 
Paris  by  the  helmet,  and  dragged  him  towards 
the  hosts  of  the  Greeks,  for  he  was  choked  by 
the  band  of  the  helmet.  And  truly  he  had 
taken  him,  but  Aphrodite  loosed  the  strap  that 
was  beneath  the  chin,  and  the  helmet  came  off 
in  his  hand.  And  Menelaus  whirled  it  among 
the  Greeks  and  charged  with  another  spear  in 
his  hand.  But  Aphrodite  snatched  Paris  away, 
covering  him  with  a  mist,  and  put  him  down  in 
his  chamber  in  Troy.  Then  Menelaus  looked 
for  him  everywhere,  but  no  one  could  tell  him 
where  he  might  be.  No  son  of  Troy  would 
have  hidden  him  out  of  kindness,  for  all  hated 
him  as  death. 

Then    King    Agamemnon   said,    "  Now,   ye 


44  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

sons  of  Troy,  it  is  for  you  to  give  back  the 
fair  Helen  and  her  wealth,  and  to  pay  me, 
besides,  so  much  as  may  be  fitting  for  all  my 
cost  and  trouble." 

So  spake  King  Agamemnon,  and  the  Greeks 
applauded. 


THE  BROKEN  OATH.  45 


CHAPTER   V. 

THE    BROKEN    OATH. 

MEANWHILE  the  gods  sat  in  council  in  the 
hall  of  Zeus ;  and  fair  Hebe  poured  out  for 
them  the  nectar,  and  they  pledged  each  other 
in  cups  of  gold,  looking  down  upon  the  city 
of  Troy.  Then  spake  Zeus,  seeking  to  pro- 
voke Hera  with  taunting  words :  — 

"  Two  helpers  hath  Menelaiis  among  the 
goddesses,  even  Hera  and  Athene.  But  now 
they  sit  still  and  take  their  pleasure,  while 
Aphrodite  walketh  beside  Paris,  and  deliver- 
eth  him  from  instant  death.  Yet,  seeing  that 
Menelaus  hath  prevailed,  let  us  consider  what 
shall  next  be  done.  Shall  we  stir  up  war 
again,  or  make  peace  between  the  hosts  ?  If 
it  please  you  to  make  peace,  then  let  Mene- 
laus take  Helen  to  his  home  again,  and  let 
Priam's  city  continue." 

So  he  spake.  But  Hera  and  Athene  sat 
wrathful  side  by  side,  meditating  evil  in  their 


46  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

hearts  against  the  men  of  Troy.  Athene  kept 
silence,  for  all  the  fury  that  raged  within  her, 
but  Hera  could  not  contain  her  wrath,  and 
spake  :  — 

"  What  is  this  thou  sayest,  son  of  Chronos  ? 
Wouldst  thou  make  void  all  my  toil  and 
trouble,  with  which  I  have  gathered  this  peo- 
ple together,  that  Priam  and  his  sons  may  be 
destroyed  ?  Do  as  thou  wilt ;  but  it  pleaseth 
not  the  other  gods." 

To  her  Zeus  spake  in  answer  wrathfully: 
"  Tell  us  what  evil  have  Priam  and  the  sons 
of  Priam  done  in  thy  sight  that  thou  desirest 
so  pitilessly  the  downfall  of  this  fair  city  of 
Troy?  Verily  wert  thou  to  pass  within  the 
gates,  and  eat  Priam  raw,  and  his  sons  with 
him,  then  might  thy  hate  be  satisfied.  Do, 
then,  as  thou  wilt.  Let  not  this  matter  breed 
ill-will  betwixt  me  and  thee.  Yet  remember 
what  I  say.  If  I  be  minded  to  destroy  in  time 
to  come  some  city  that  thou  lovest,  say  me  not 
nay,  nor  hinder  me,  for  in  this  have  I  yielded 
to  thy  will,  though  sore  unwilling.  Verily  of 
all  the  cities  of  men  that  lie  beneath  the  stars, 
I  have  loved  holy  Troy  the  best.  Never  there 


THE  BROKEN  OATH.  47 

has  my  altar  failed  of  feast  and  banquet  and 
the  sweet  savour  that  is  the  due  of  gods." 

Then  Hera  answered :  "  Three  cities  have  I 
that  I  love,  Argos  and  Sparta  and  Mycenae. 
If  they  have  offended  thee,  destroy  them;  I 
begrudge  them  not ;  nor,  indeed,  could  I  with- 
stand thy  will.  Yet  my  toil  also  should  not 
be  made  vain ;  for  I,  too,  am  a  daughter  of 
Chronos,  and  first  in  place  among  the  immor- 
tals, seeing  that  I  am  thy  wife,  who  art  the 
King.  Come,  therefore,  let  us  yield  to  one 
another,  and  the  other  gods  will  follow  us. 
Let  now  Athene  go  down,  and  bring  it  to 
pass  that  some  one  of  the  Trojans  begin  the 
strife  and  break  the  truce." 

Thus  she  ended,  and  Zeus  said  not  nay,  but 
spake  straightway  to  Athene :  "  Make  haste, 
get  thee  down  to  the  host,  and  bring  it  to  pass 
that  the  men  of  Troy  break  the  truce." 

So  Athene  sped  down  from  the  top  of 
Olympus,  like  to  a  star  which  Zeus  sends  as 
a  sign  to  sailors  on  the  sea,  or  to  some  host 
that  goeth  forth  to  battle ;  and  wonder  cometh 
upon  all  that  behold  it. 

Among  the  host  of  Troy  she  went,  taking 


48  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

upon  herself  the  shape  of  Laodocus,  son  of 
Antenor,  and  went  to  Pandarus,  son  of  Ly- 
caon,  where  he  stood  among  his  men.  Then 
the  false  Laodocus  said :  "  Pandarus,  darest 
thou  aim  an  arrow  at  Menelalis  ?  Truly  the 
Trojans  would  love  thee  well,  and  Paris  best  of 
all,  if  they  could  see  Menelalis  slain  by  an 
arrow  from  thy  bow.  Aim  then,  but  first  pray 
to  Apollo,  and  vow  that  thou  wilt  offer  a  hun- 
dred beasts  when  thou  returnest  to  thy  city 
Zeleia." 

Now  Pandarus  had  a  bow  made  of  the  horns 
of  a  wild  goat  which  he  had  slain ;  sixteen 
palms  long  were  the  horns,  and  a  cunning 
workman  had  made  them  smooth,  and  put  a 
tip  of  gold  whereon  to  fasten  the  bow-string. 
And  Pandarus  strung  his  bow,  his  comrades 
hiding  him  with  their  shields.  Then  he  took 
an  arrow  from  his  quiver,  and  laid  it  on  the 
bow-string,  and  drew  the  string  to  his  breast, 
till  the  arrow-head  touched  the  bow,  and  let  fly. 
Right  well  aimed  was  the  dart,  but  it  was  not 
the  will  of  heaven  that  it  should  slay  Mene- 
laiis.  For  the  daughter  of  Zeus  stood  before 
him,  and  turned  aside  the  shaft,  waving  it  from 


THE  BROKEN  OATH.  49 

him  as  a  mother  waveth  a  fly  from  her  child 
when  he  lieth  asleep.  She  guided  it  to  where 
the  golden  clasps  of  the  belt  came  together, 
and  the  breastplate  overlapped.  It  passed 
through  the  belt,  and  through  the  corselet, 
and  through  the  girdle,  and  pierced  the  skin. 
Then  the  red  blood  rushed  out  and  stained 
the  white  skin,  even  as  some  Lycian  or  Carian 
woman  stains  the  white  ivory  with  red  to 
adorn  the  war-horse  of  a  king.  Even  so  were 
the  thighs  and  legs  and  ankles  of  Menelaus 
dyed  with  blood. 

Sore  dismayed  was  King  Agamemnon  to  see 
the  blood ;  sore  dismayed  also  was  the  brave 
Menelaus,  till  he  spied  the  barb  of  the  arrow, 
and  knew  that  the  wound  was  not  deep.  But 
Agamemnon  cried :  "  It  was  in  an  evil  hour 
for  thee,  my  brother,  that  I  made  a  covenant 
with  these  false  sons  of  Troy.  Right  well,  in- 
deed, I  know  that  oath  and  sacrifice  are  not  in 
vain.  For  though  Zeus  fulfil  not  now  his  pur- 
pose, yet  will  he  take  vengeance  at  the  last, 
and  the  guilty  shall  suffer,  they  and  their 
wives,  and  their  children.  Troy  shall  fall ;  but 
woe  is  me  if  thou  shouldst  die,  Menelaus. 

D 


50  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

For  the  Greeks  will  straight  go  back  to  their 
fatherland,  and  the  fair  Helen  will  be  left  a 
boast  to  the  sons  of  Troy,  and  I  shall  have 
great  shame  when  one  of  them  shall  say,  as  he 
leaps  on  the  tomb  of  the  brave  Menelaus, 
'  Surely  the  great  Agamemnon  has  avenged 
himself  well ;  for  he  brought  an  army  hither, 
but  now  is  gone  back  to  his  home,  but  left 
Menelaus  here.'  May  the  earth  swallow  me 
up  before  that  day !  " 

"  Nay,"  said  Menelaus ;  "  fear  not,  for  the 
arrow  hath  but  grazed  the  skin." 

Then  King  Agamemnon  bade  fetch  the 
physician.  So  the  herald  fetched  Machaon, 
the  physician.  And  Machaon  came,  and  drew 
forth  the  arrow,  and  when  he  had  wiped  away 
the  blood  he  put  healing  drugs  upon  the 
wound,  which  Cheiron,  the  wise  healer,  had 
given  to  his  father. 

But  while  this  was  doing,  King  Agamemnon 
went  throughout  the  host,  and  if  he  saw  any 
one  stirring  himself  to  get  ready  for  the  battle 
he  praised  him  and  gave  him  good  encourage- 
ment ;  but  whomsoever  he  saw  halting  and 
lingering  and  slothful,  him  he  blamed  and 


THE  BROKEN  OATH.  51 

rebuked  whether  he  were  common  man  or 
chief.  The  last  that  he  came  to  was  Diomed, 
son  of  Tydeus  with  Sthenelus,  son  of  Capa- 
neus,  standing  by  his  side.  And  Agamemnon 
spake :  "  How  is  this,  son  of  Tydeus  ?  Shrink- 
est  thou  from  the  battle?  This  was  not  thy 
father's  wont.  I  never  saw  him,  indeed,  but 
I  have  heard  that  he  was  braver  than  all  other 
men.  Once  he  came  to  Mycenae  with  great 
Polyneices  to  gather  allies  against  Thebes. 
And  the  men  of  Mycenae  would  have  sent 
them,  only  Zeus  showed  evil  signs  from 
heaven  and  forbade  them.  Then  the  Greeks 
sent  Tydeus  on  an  embassy  to  Thebes,  where 
he  found  many  of  the  sons  of  Cadmus  feasting 
in  the  palace  of  Eteocles ;  but  Tydeus  was  not 
afraid,  though  he  was  but  one  among  many. 
He  challenged  them  to  contend  with  him  in 
sport,  and  in  everything  he  prevailed.  But 
the  sons  of  Cadmus  bare  it  ill,  and  they  laid  an 
ambush  for  Tydeus  as  he  went  back,  fifty  men 
with  two  leaders,  Maeon  and  Lycophon.  But 
Tydeus  slew  them  all,  leaving  only  Maeon 
alive,  that  he  might  carry  back  the  tidings  to 
Thebes.  Such  was  thy  father ;  but  his  son  is 


52  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

worse  in  battle,  but  better,  it  may  be,  in 
speech." 

Nothing  said  Diomed,  for  he  reverenced  the 
King  ;  but  Sthenelus  cried  out :  "  Why  speak- 
est  thou  false,  King  Agamemnon,  knowing  the 
truth  ?  We  are  not  worse  but  better  than  our 
fathers.  Did  not  we  take  Thebes,  though  we 
had  fewer  men  than  they,  who  indeed  took  it 
not  ?  "  But  Diomed  frowned  and  said :  "  Be 
silent,  friend.  I  blame  not  King  Agamemnon, 
that  he  rouses  the  Greeks  to  battle.  Great 
glory  will  it  be  to  him  if  they  take  the  city, 
and  great  loss  if  they  be  worsted.  But  it  is 
for  us  to  be  valiant." 

So  he  passed  through  all  the  host.  And 
the  Greeks  went  forward  to  the  battle,  as  the 
waves  that  curl  themselves,  then  dash  upon  the 
shore,  throwing  high  the  foam.  In  order  they 
went  after  their  chiefs  ;  you  had  thought  them 
dumb,  so  silent  were  they.  But  the  Trojans 
were  like  a  flock  of  ewes  which  wait  to  be 
milked,  and  bleat  hearing  the  voice  of  their 
lambs,  so  confused  a  cry  went  out  from  their 
army,  for  there  were  men  of  many  tongues 
gathered  together.  And  on  either  side  the 
gods  urged  them  on. 


THE  BROKEN  OATH.  53 

Among  the  Trojan  ranks  was  Ares,  and 
among  the  Greeks  Athene,  and  with  her  Fear, 
and  Flight,  and  Strife  that  never  grows  weary, 
sister  and  comrade  of  Ares.  Mean  is  her  stat- 
ure at  the  first,  but  in  the  end  she  holds  her 
head  to  heaven,  while  she  walks  with  her  feet 
upon  the  earth. 


$4  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

THE    VALIANT    DEEDS    OF    DIOMED. 

WHEN  the  armies  were  come  into  one  place, 
they  dashed  together  with  buckler  and  spear ; 
and  there  was  a  great  crash  of  shields  that  met, 
boss  upon  boss.  Next  rose  up  a  great  moan- 
ing of  them  that  were  stricken  down,  and 
shouting  of  the  conquerors;  and  the  ground 
ran  with  blood.  As  when  two  torrents,  swol- 
len with  rains  of  winter,  join  their  waters  in 
a  hollow  ravine  at  the  meeting  of  the  glens,  and 
the  shepherds  hear  the  din  far  off  among  the 
hills,  even  so,  with  a  mighty  noise  and  great 
confusion,  did  the  two  armies  meet. 

Antilochus,  son  of  Nestor,  was  the  first  to 
slay  a  man  of  Troy,  Ecepholus  by  name,  smit- 
ing him  through  the  helmet  on  the  forehead. 
Like  a  tower  he  fell,  and  Elphenor  the  Euboean 
sought  to  drag  him  away,  that  he  might  strip 
him  of  his  arms.  But  Agenor  smote  him  with 
his  spear  as  he  stooped,  so  baring  his  side  to 


THE   VALIANT  DEEDS  OF  DIOMED.  55 

a  wound.  Dreadful  was  the  fight  around  his 
body.  Like  wolves  the  Trojans  and  the  Greeks 
rushed  upon  each  other.  And  Ajax  Telamon 
slew  Simoeisius  (so  they  called  him,  because  he 
was  born  on  the  banks  of  Simois).  He  fell 
as  a  poplar  falls,  and  Antiphon,  son  of  King 
Priam,  aimed  at  Ajax,  but,  missing  him,  slew 
Leucus,  the  valiant  comrade  of  Ulysses.  And 
Ulysses,  in  great  anger,  stalked  through  the 
foremost  fighters,  brandishing  his  spear,  and 
the  sons  of  Troy  gave  way,  and  when  he  hurled 
it  he  slew  Democoon,  a  son  of  Priam.  Nv  Then 
Hector  and  the  foremost  ranks  of  Troy  were 
borne  backward,  till  Apollo  cried  from  the 
heights  of  Pergamos:  "On,  Trojans!  The 
flesh  of  these  Greeks  is  not  stone  or  iron, 
that  ye  cannot  pierce  it.  Know,  too,  that  the 
mighty  Achilles  does  not  fight  to-day."  •  But 
on  the  other  side  Athene  urged  on  the  Greeks 
to  battle.  Then  Peiros  the  Thracian  slew  Di- 
ores,  first  striking  him  to  the  ground  with  a 
huge  stone,  and  then  piercing  him  with  his 
spear ;  and  him  in  turn  Thoas  of  /Etolia  slew, 
but  could  not  spoil  of  his  arms,  so  strongly  did 
the  men  of  Thrace  defend  the  body.  Then 


56  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

Athene  roused  Diomed  to  battle,  making  a 
fire  shine  from  his  helmet,  bright  as  Orion 
shines  in  the  vintage  time.  First  there  met 
him  two  warriors,  sons  of  Dares,  priest  of 
Hephaestus,  Phegeus  and  Idaeus,  the  one  fight- 
ing on  foot  and  the  other  from  his  chariot. 
First  Phegeus  threw  his  spear  and  missed  his 
aim ;  but  Diomed  missed  not,  smiting  him 
through  the  breast.  And  Idaeus,  when  he  saw 
his  brother  fall,  fled,  Hephaestus  saving  him, 
lest  the  old  man  should  be  altogether  bereaved. 
And  when  the  Trojans  saw  that  of  the  two 
sons  of  Dares  one  had  perished  and  the  other 
had  fled,  their  hearts  were  troubled  within 
them. 

Then  did  Athene  take  Ares  by  the  hand, 
and  say  to  him:  "Come,  let  us  leave  the 
Greeks  and  the  men  of  Troy  to  fight,  and  let 
Zeus  give  the  glory  to  whom  he  will ;  only  let 
us  draw  back,  and  avoid  his  wrath." 

So  she  drew  back  fierce  Ares  from  the  war, 
and  caused  him  to  sit  by  the  banks  of  Scaman- 
der.  Then  did  the  Greeks  beat  back  the  men 
of  Troy.  And  each  of  the  chiefs  slew  a  foe ; 
but  there  was  none  like  Diomed,  who  raged 


THE   VALIANT  DEEDS   OF  DIOMED.  $7 

through  the  battle  so  furiously  that  you  could 
not  tell  with  which  host  he  was,  whether  with 
the  Greeks  or  with  the  sons  of  Troy.  Then 
Pandarus  aimed  an  arrow  at  him,  and  smote 
him  in  the  right  shoulder  as  he  was  rushing 
forward,  and  cried  aloud :  "  On,  great-hearted 
sons  of  Troy,  the  bravest  of  the  Greeks  is 
wounded !  Soon,  methinks,  will  his  strength 
fail  him,  unless  Apollo  has  deceived  me." 

So  he  spake  exulting,  but  the  arrow  quelled 
not  Diomed.  Only  he  leapt  down  from  the 
chariot,  and  spake  to  Sthenelus,  his  charioteer, 
"  Come  down,  and  draw  this  arrow  from  my 
shoulder."  Then  Sthenelus  drew  it,  and  the 
blood  spirted  out  from  the  wound.  And  Dio- 
med prayed  to  Athene :  "  O  Goddess,  if  ever 
thou  didst  love  my  father,  and  stand  beside 
him  in  the  fiery  war,  be  thou  a  friend  to  me 
also ;  let  me  come  within  a  spear's  cast  of  this 
man  who  hath  wounded  me,  and  who  boasteth 
himself  over  me,  saying  that  I  shall  not  long 
look  upon  the  shining  of  the  sun." 

So  he  prayed,  and  Athene  heard;  and  she 
made  light  his  hands  and  his  feet,  and  stood 
beside  him,  and  spake:  "Be  bold  now,  O 


58  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

Diomed,  and  fight  with  the  men  of  Troy ! 
X  I  have  breathed  into  thy  heart  the  spirit  that 
was  in  Tydeus,  thy  father,  and  I  have  taken 
away  the  mist  that  was  upon  thine  eyes,  that 
thou  mayest  know  god  from  man.V  Fight  not 
thou  with  any  of  the  immortals,  if  a  god  should 
come  in  thy  way ;  only  if  Aphrodite  comes 
into  the  battle,  her  thou  mayest  wound." 

So  spake  Athene,  and  went  her  way;  and 
Diomed  turned  back  to  the  battle,  and  mingled 
with  the  foremost.  Eager  he  had  been  before 
to  fight,  but  now  his  eagerness  was  increased 
threefold.  Even  as  a  lion  whom  a  shepherd 
wounds  a  little  as  he  leaps  into  the  fold,  but 
kills  not,  and  the  man  escapes  into  his  house, 
and  the  sheep  flee  in  their  terror,  falling  hud- 
dled in  a  heap,  even  so  did  Diomed  rage 
among  the  men  of  Troy. 

Many  did  he  slay,  as  the  two  sons  of  Eury- 
damas,  the  old  dreamer  of  dreams,  who  read 
no  dream  to  them  aright  of  safe  return,  and 
the  two  sons  of  Phcenops,  darlings  of  their 
father,  for  they  were  his  only  sons,  and  he  had 
none  besides,  and  two  sons  of  Priam,  riding  in 
one  chariot.  As  a  lion  leaps  into  the  herd, 


THE   VALIANT  DEEDS  OF  DIOMED.  59 

and  breaks  the  neck  of  a  heifer  or  a  cow,  even 
so  did  Diomed  dash  them  struggling  from  the 
chariot,  and  gave  their  horses  to  his  followers, 
that  they  should  drive  them  to  the  ships. 

^Eneas  saw  him,  and  thought  how  he  might 
stay  him  in  his  course.  So  he  passed  through 
the  host  till  he  found  Pandarus.  "  Pandarus," 
he  said,  "  where  are  thy  bow  and  arrows?  See 
how  this  man  deals  death  through  the  ranks. 
Send  a  shaft  at  him,  first  making  thy  prayer 
to  Zeus." 

Then  Pandarus  answered :  "  This  man,  me- 
thinks,  is  Diomed.  The  shield  and  the  helmet 
and  the  horses  are  his.  And  yet  I  know  not 
whether  he  is  not  a  god.  Some  god,  at  least, 
stands  by  him  and  guards  him.  But  now  I 
sent  an  arrow  at  him,  and  smote  him  on  the 
shoulder,  right  through  the  corselet,  and 
thought  that  I  had  slain  him ;  but  lo !  I  have 
harmed  him  not  at  all.  And  now  I  know 
not  what  to  do,  for  here  I  have  no  chariot. 
Eleven,  indeed,  there  are  at  home,  in  the 
house  of  my  father  Lycaon,  and  the  old  man 
was  earnest  with  me  that  I  should  bring  one 
of  them;  but  I  would  not,  fearing  for  my 


60  THE  STORY  OF  THE  TLTAD. 

horses,  lest  they  should  not  have  provender 
enough.-  So  I  came,  trusting  in  my  bow,  and 
lo !  it  has  failed  me  these  two  times.  Two  of 
the  chiefs  I  have  hit,  Menelalis  and  Diomed, 
and  from  each  have  seen  the  red  blood  flow, 
yet  have  I  not  harmed  them.  Surely,  if  ever  I 
return  safe  to  my  home,  I  will  break  this  use- 
less bow." 

"  Nay,"  said  ^Eneas,  "talk  not  thus.  Climb 
into  my  chariot,  and  see  what  horses  we  have 
in  Troy.  They  will  carry  us  safe  to  the  city, 
even  should  Diomed  prevail  against  us.  But 
take  the  rein  and  the  whip,  and  I  will  fight ; 
or,  if  thou  wilt,  fight  thou,  and  I  will  drive." 

"  Nay,"  said  Pandarus,  "  let  the  horses  have 
the  driver  whom  they  know.  It  might  lose  us 
both,  should  we  turn  to  flee,  and  they  linger  or 
start  aside,  missing  their  master's  voice." 

So  Pandarus  mounted  the  chariot,  and  they 
drove  together  against  Diomed.  And  Sthene- 
lus  saw  them  coming,  and  said  to  his  com- 
rades :  "  I  see  two  mighty  warriors,  Lycaon 
and  y£neas.  It  would  be  well  that  we  should 
go  back  to  our  chariot." 

But  Diomed  frowned,  and  said :  "  Talk  not 


THE   VAUANT  DEEDS   OF  DIOMED.  6 1 

\ 

of  going  back.  Thou  wilt  talk  in  vain  to  me. 
As  for  my  chariot,  I  care  not  for  it.  As  I  am 
will  I  go  against  these  men.  Both  shall  not 
return  safe,  even  if  one  should  escape.  But  do 
thou  stay  my  chariot  where  it  is,  tying  the 
reins  to  the  rail ;  and  if  I  slay  these  men, 
mount  the  chariot  of  /Eneas  and  drive  it  into 
the  host  of  the  Greeks.  There  are  no  horses 
under  the  sun  such  as  these,  for  they  are  of 
the  breed  which  Zeus  himself  gave  to  King 
Tros." 

Meanwhile  Pandarus  and  /Eneas  were  com- 
ing near,  and  Pandarus  cast  his  spear.  Right 
through  the  shield  of  Diomed  it  passed,  and 
reached  the  corselet,  and  Pandarus  cried:  — 

"  Thou  art  hit  in  the  loin.  This,  methinks, 
will  lay  thee  low." 

"  Nay,"  said  Diomed,  "  thou  hast  missed  and 
not  hit  at  all." 

And  as  he  spake  he  threw  his  spear. 
Through  nose  and  teeth  and  tongue  it  passed, 
and  stood  out  below  the  chin.  Headlong  from 
the  chariot  he  fell,  and  his  armour  clashed 
about  him.  Straightway  /Eneas  leapt  off  with 
spear  and  shield  to  guard  the  body  of  his 


62  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

friend,  and  stood  as  a  lion  stands  over  a  car- 
cass. But  Diomed  lifted  a  great  stone,  such 
as  two  men  of  our  day  could  scarcely  carry, 
and  cast  it.  It  struck  ^neas  on  the  hip, 
crushing  the  bone.  The  hero  stooped  on  his 
knee,  clutching  the  ground  with  his  hand,  and 
darkness  covered  his  eyes.  That  hour  he  had 
perished,  but  his  mother  Aphrodite  caught 
him  in  her  white  arms,  •  and  threw  her  veil 
about  him.  But  even  so,  Diomed  was  loath 
to  let  his  foe  escape,  and  knowing  that  the 
goddess  was  not  of  those  who  mingle  in  the 
battle,  he  rushed  on  her  and  wounded  her  on 
the  wrist,  and  the  blood  gushed  out  —  such 
blood  (they  call  it  ichor)  as  flows  in  the  veins 
of  the  immortal  gods,  who  eat  not  the  meat 
and  drink  not  the  drink  of  men.  With  a  loud 
shriek  she  dropped  her  son,  but  Apollo  caught 
him  up  and  covered  him  with  a  dark  mist,  lest 
perchance  one  of  the  Greeks  should  spy  him 
and  slay  him. 

But  Diomed  called  aloud  after  Aphrodite: 
"  Haste  thee  from  the  battle,  daughter  of  Zeus. 
It  is  enough  for  thee  to  beguile  weak  women." 

Wildly  did  the  goddess  rush  from  the  battle. 


THE    VALIANT  DEEDS   OF  DIOMED.  63 

And  Iris,  swift  as  the  winds,  took  her  by  the 
hand,  and  led  her  out  of  the  press,  for  she  was 
tormented  with  the  pain.  She  found  Ares  on 
the  left  of  the  field,  and  knelt  before  him,  beg- 
ging for  his  horses  with  many  prayers.  "  Help 
me,  dear  brother,"  she  said,  "and  lend  me  thy 
horses  to  carry  me  to  Olympus,  for  I  am  tor- 
mented with  a  wound  which  a  mortal  man 
gave  me,  even  Diomed,  who  would  fight  with 
Father  Zeus  himself." 

Then  Ares  gave  her  his  chariot,  and  Iris 
took  the  reins,  and  touched  the  horses  with  the 
whip.  Speedily  came  they  to  Olympus,  and 
then  Iris  reined  in  the  horses,  and  Aphrodite 
fell  on  the  lap  of  her  mother  Dione,  who  took 
her  daughter  in  her  arms,  and  caressed  her, 
saying:  — 

"  Dear  child,  which  of  the  immortals  hath 
harmed  thee  thus?" 

Aphrodite  answered,  "  No  immortal  hath 
done  it,  but  a  mortal  man,  even  Diomed,  who 
now  fighteth  with  the  immortal  gods." 

But  Dione  answered:  "  Bear  up  and  endure 
thy  pain,  for  many  who  dwell  in  Olympus  have 
suffered  pain  at  the  hands  of  mortal  men.  So 


64  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

Ares  endured  when  the  two  giants  bound  him 
with  mighty  bonds.  Nineteen  months  he  lay 
in  a  jar  of  bronze,  aye,  and  had  perished  there, 
but  that  Hermes  stole  him  therefrom.  Pain 
also  did  Hera  endure  when  the  strong  Her- 
cules smote  her  in  the  breast  with  a  three- 
pointed  arrow ;  and  Pluto  also  when  the  same 
man  struck  him  at  Pylos,  where  are  the  gates 
of  hell.  And  now  Athene  hath  urged  on  the 
son  of  Tydeus.  Fool  that  he  is!  he  knoweth 
not  that  brief  are  the  days  of  him  who  would 
fight  with  the  immortal  gods.  No  children 
shall  stand  at  his  knee  and  call  him  father. 
Let  him  take  heed,  for  all  that  he  is  so 
strong ! " 

So  spake  she,  and  wiped  the  moisture  from 
the  wound  with  both  her  hands,  and  the  griev- 
ous hurt  was  healed.  But  Hera  and  Athene 
looked  on  and  mocked.  And  Athene  said  to 
Zeus,  "  Now  hath  thy  daughter  been  moving 
one  of  the  Greek  women  to  follow  the  Trojans 
whom  she  loveth  so  well,  and  lo !  she  hath 
wounded  her  hand  with  the  pin  of  a  golden 
brooch." 

But  the  father  smiled,  and  called  Aphrodite 


THE   VALIANT  DEEDS  OF  DIOMED.  65 

to  him,  and  said,  "  My  child,  deeds  of  war  are 
not  for  thee,  but  love  and  marriage ;  leave  the 
rest  to  Athene  and  Ares." 

Meanwhile  Diomed  sprang  upon  /Eneas, 
though  he  knew  that  Apollo  himself  held 
him.  He  regarded  not  the  god,  for  he  was 
eager  to  slay  the  hero  and  to  strip  off  his 
arms.  Thrice  he  sprang,  and  thrice  Apollo 
dashed  back  his  shining  shield.  The  fourth  . 
time  Apollo  warned  him  with  awful  words, 
"  Beware,  son  of  Tydeus,  and  fall  back,  nor 
think  to  match  thyself  with  gods."  But  Apollo 
carried  /Eneas  out  of  the  battle,  and  laid  him 
down  in  his  own  temple  in  the  citadel  of  Troy, 
and  there  Artemis  and  Latona  healed  him  of 
his  wound.  And  all  the  while  the  Trojans 
and  the  Greeks  were  fighting,  as  they  thought, 
about  his  body,  for  Apollo  had  made  a  like- 
ness of  the  hero  and  thrown  it  down  in  their 
midst.  Then  Sarpedon  the  Lycian  spake  to 
Hector  with  bitter  words :  — 

"  Where  are  thy  boasts,  Hector  ?  Thou 
saidst  that  thou  couldst  guard  thy  city,  with- 
out thy  people  or  thy  allies,  thou  alone,  with 
thy  brothers  and  thy  brothers-in-law.  But  I 

E 


66  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

cannot  see  even  one  of  them.  They  go  and 
hide  themselves,  as  dogs  before  a  lion.  It_js_ 

we,  your   allies,  who   maintain   the  battle. I 

have  come  from  far  to  help  thy  people,  —  from 
Lycia,  where  I  left  wife  and  child  and  wealth, 
—  nor  do  I  shrink  from  the  fight,  but  thou 
shouldst  do  thy  part." 

And  the  words  stung  Hector  to  the  heart. 
He  leapt  from  his  chariot  and  went  through 
the  host,  urging  them  to  the  battle.  And  on 
the  other  side  the  Greeks  strengthened  them- 
selves. But  Ares  brought  back  ^Eneas  whole 
from  his  wound,  and  gave  him  courage  and 
might.  Right  glad  were  his  comrades  to  see 
him,  nor  did  they  ask  him  any  question ;  scant 
leisure  was  there  for  questions  that  day.  Then 
were  done  many  valiant  deeds,  nor  did  any 
bear  himself  more  bravely  than  yEneas.  Two 
chieftains  of  the  Greeks  he  slew,  Crethon  and 
Orsilochus,  who  came  from  the  banks  of 
Alpheiis.  Sore  vexed  was  Menelalis  to  see 
them  fall,  and  he  rushed  to  avenge  them,  Ares 
urging  him  on,  for  he  hoped  that  ^neas 
would  slay  him.  But  Antilochus,  Nestor's 
son,  saw  him  go,  and  hasted  to  his  side  that 


THE   VALIANT  DEEDS  OF  DfOMED.          67 

he  might  help  him.  So  they  went  and  slew 
Pylaemenes,  King  of  the  Paphlagonians,  and 
Medon,  his  charioteer.  Then  Hector  rushed 
to  the  front,  and  Ares  was  by  his  side.  Di- 
omed  saw  him,  and  the  god  also,  for  his  eyes 
were  opened  that  day,  and  he  fell  back  a  space 
and  cried  :  — 

"  O  my  friends  !  here  Hector  comes ;  nor  is 
he  alone,  but  Ares  is  with  him  in  the  shape  of 
a  mortal  man.  Let  us  give  place,  still  keeping 
our  faces  to  the  foe,  for  men  must  not  fight 

-^  | , -— — • .     jur      _  n_i -^^- -   -  — — - 

with  gods." 

Then  drew  near  to  each  other  Sarpedon  the 
Lycian  and  Tlepolemus,  the  son  of  Hercules, 
the  one  a  son  and  the  other  a  grandson  of 
Zeus.  First  Tlepolemus  spake :  — 

"  What  art  thou  doing  here,  Sarpedon  ? 
Surely  'tis  a  false  report  that  thou  art  a  son 
of  Zeus.  The  sons  of  Zeus  in  the  old  days 
were  better  men  than  thou  art,  such  as  my 
Father  Hercules,  who  came  to  this  city  when 
Laomedon  would  not  give  him  the  horses 
which  he  had  promised,  and  brake  down  the 
walls  and  wasted  the  streets.  No  help,  me- 
thinks,  wilt  thou  be  to  the  sons  of  Troy,  slain 
here  by  my  hands," 


68  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

But  Sarpedon  answered:  "  He,  indeed,  spoiled 
Troy,  for  Laomedon  did  him  grievous  wrong. 
But  thou  shalt  not  fare  so,  but  rather  meet 
with  thy  death." 

Then  they  both  hurled  their  spears,  aiming 
truly,  both  of  them.  For  Sarpedon  smote 
Tlepolemus  in  the  neck,  piercing  it  through 
so  that  he  fell  dead,  and  Tlepolemus  smote 
Sarpedon  in  the  left  thigh,  driving  the  spear 
close  to  the  bone,  but  slaying  him  not,  for  his 
Father  Zeus  warded  off  the  doom  of  death. 
And  his  comrades  carried  him  out  of  the 
battle,  sorely  burdened  with  the  spear,  which 
no  one  had  thought  to  take  out  of  the  wound. 
And  as  he  was  borne  along,  Hector  passed 
by,  and  Sarpedon  rejoiced  to  see  him,  and 
cried:  — 

"  Son  of  Priam,  suffer  me  not  to  become  a 
prey  to  the  Greeks ;  let  me  at  least  die  in  your 
city;  for  Lycia  I  may  see  no  more,  nor  wife, 
nor  child." 

But  Hector  heeded  him  not,  so  eager  was  he 
for  the  battle.  So  his  comrades  carried  him  to 
the  great  beech  tree  and  laid  him  down,  and 
one  of  them  drew  the  spear  out  of  his  thigh. 


THE   VALIANT  DEEDS  OF  DIOMED.  69 

When  it  was  drawn  out  he  fainted,  but  the 
cool  north  wind  blew  and  revived  him,  and  he 
breathed  again. 

But  all  the  while  Hector,  with  Ares  at  his 
side,  dealt  death  and  destruction  through  the 
ranks  of  the  Greeks.  Hera  and  Athene  saw 
him  where  they  sat  on  the  top  of  Olympus, 
and  were  wroth.  So  they  went  to  Father 
Zeus,  and  prayed  that  it  might  be  lawful  to 
them  to  stop  him  in  his  fury.  And  Zeus  said, 
"  Be  it  as  you  will."  So  they  yoked  the  horses 
to  the  chariot  of  Hera  and  passed  down  to 
earth,  the  horses  flying  at  every  stride  over  so 
much  space  as  a  man  sees  who  sits  upon  a  cliff 
and  looks  across  the  sea  to  where  it  meets  the 
sky.  They  alighted  on  the  spot  where  the 
two  rivers  Simoi's  and  Scamander  join  their 
streams.  There  they  loosed  the  horses  from 
the  yoke,  and  then  sped  like  doves  to  where 
the  bravest  of  the  Greeks  stood  round  King 
Diomed.  There  Hera  took  the  shape  of  Sten- 
tor  with  the  lungs  of  bronze,  whose  voice  was 
as  the  voice  of  fifty  men,  and  cried :  "  Shame, 
men  of  Greece !  When  Achilles  went  to  the 
battle,  the  men  of  Troy  came  not  beyond  the 


70  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD- 

gates,  but  now  they  fight  far  from  the  city, 
even  by  the  ships."  But  Athene  went  to  Dio- 
med,  where  he  stood  wiping  away  the  blood 
from  the  wound  where  Pandarus  had  struck 
him  with  the  arrow.  And  she  spake :  "  Surely 
the  son  of  Tydeus  is  little  like  to  his  sire. 
Small  of  stature  was  he,  but  a  keen  fighter. 
But  thou  —  whether  it  be  weariness  or  fear 
that  keeps  thee  back  I  know  not  —  canst 
scarcely  be  a  true  son  of  Tydeus." 

But  Diomed  answered :  "  Nay,  great  goddess, 
for  I  know  thee  who  thou  art,  daughter  of 
Zeus,  it  is  not  weariness  or  fear  that  keeps  me 
back.  'Tis  thy  own  command  that  I  heed. 
Thou  didst  bid  me  fight  with  none  other  of 
the  immortal  gods  but  only  with  Aprodite, 
should  she  come  to  the  battle.  Therefore  I 
give  place,  for  I  see  Ares  lording  it  through 
the  ranks  of  war." 

Then  Athene  spake :  "  Heed  not  Ares ;  drive 
thy  chariot  at  him,  and  smite  him  with  the 
spear.  This  very  morning  he  promised  that 
he  would  help  the  Greeks,  and  now  he  hath 
changed  his  purpose." 

And  as  she  spake   she   pushed   Sthenelus, 


THE   VALIANT  DEEDS  OF  DIOMED.  71 

who  drove  the  chariot,  so  that  he  leapt  out 
upon  the  ground,  and  she  mounted  herself  and 
caught  the  reins  and  lashed  the  horses.  So  . 
the  two  went  together,  and  they  found  Ares 
where  he  had  just  slain  Periphas  the  ^tolian. 
But  Athene  had  donned  the  helmet  of  Hades, 
which  whosoever  puts  on  straightway  becomes 
invisible,  for  she  would  not  that  Ares  should 
see  her  who  she  was.  The  god  saw  Diomed 
come  near,  and  left  Periphas,  and  cast  his 
spear  over  the  yoke  of  the  chariot,  eager  to 
slay  the  hero.  But  Athene  caught  the  spear 
in  her  hand,  and  turned  it  aside,  so  that  it  flew 
vainly  through  the  air.  Then  Diomed  in  turn 
thrust  forward  his  spear,  and  Athene  leant 
upon  it,  so  that  it  pierced  the  loin  of  Ares, 
where  his  girdle  was  clasped.  And  Ares 
shouted  with  the  pain,  loud  as  a  host  of  men, 
thousands  nine  or  ten,  shouts  when  it  joins  in 
battle.  And  the  Greeks  and  Trojans  trem- 
bled as  they  heard.  And  Diomed  saw  the 
god  go  up  to  Olympus  as  a  thunder-cloud 
goes  up  when  the  wind  of  the  south  blows 
hot. 

By  the  side  of   Zeus  did  he  sit  down,  and 


72  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

showed  the  immortal  blood  as  it  flowed  from 
the  wound,  and  cried :  "  Father  Zeus,  canst 
thou  contain  thyself,  seeing  such  deeds  as 
these  ?  See  now  this  daughter  of  thine,  how 
she  is  bent  on  evil  and  mischief.  All  we  that 
dwell  in  Olympus  are  obedient  to  thee;  but 
her  thou  checkest  not  with  word  or  deed ;  she 
is  thy  child,  forsooth,  a  very  child  of  mischief. 
And  now  she  hath  set  on  this  bold  Diomed  to 
wreak  his  madness  on  the  immortal  gods :  first 
he  wounded  Aphrodite  on  the  wrist ;  then  he 
rushed  on  me ;  my  swift  feet  bare  me  away,\ 
else  surely  I  had  suffered  the  pains  of  death 
among  the  carcasses  of  the  slain." 

But  Zeus  frowned  on  him,  and  spake: 
"  Come  not  to  me  with  thy  complaints,  for  of  all 
the  Olympian  gods  thou  vexest  me  the  most, 
for  battle  and  strife  are  ever  dear  to  thee.  'Tis 
thy  mother  Hera  that  hath  put  thee  to  this 
pain.  Yet  I  may  not  suffer  thee  to  endure  the 
anguish  any  more,  for  thou  art  my  child ;  verily, 
hadst  thou  been  the  offspring  of  any  other  god, 
thou  hadst  lain  long  since  deep  down  in  Tar- 
tarus below  the  giant  race." 

Then  Zeus  called  Paeon  the  healer,  and  bade 


THE   VALIANT  DEEDS  OF  DIOMED.  73 

him  tend  the  wound ;  and  he,  sprinkling  on  it 
pain-dispelling  simples,  cured  it  of  its  smart. 
Then  Hebe  gave  to  Ares  the  bath,  and  clad 
him  in  fair  array,  and  he  sat  down  by  Zeus, 
rejoicing. 


74  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

GLAUCUS    AND    DIOMED. 

Now  when  Ares  had  departed,  the  Greeks 
prevailed  again,  slaying  many  of  the  sons  of 
Troy  and  of  their  allies.  But  at  last  Helenus, 
the  wise  seer,  spake  to  Hector  and  -^Eneas: — 

"  Cause  the  army  to  draw  back  to  the  walls, 
and  go  through  the  ranks  and  give  them  such 
strength  and  courage  as  ye  may.  And  do 
thou,  Hector,  when  thou  hast  so  done,  pass 
into  the  city,  and  bid  thy  mother  go  with  the 
daughters  of  Troy,  and  take  the  costliest  robe 
that  she  hath,  and  lay  it  on  the  knees  of 
Athene  in  her  temple,  vowing  therewith  to 
sacrifice  twelve  heifers,  if  perchance  she  may 
have  pity  upon  us,  and  keep  this  Diomed  from 
our  walls.  Surely  there  is  no  Greek  so  strong 
as  he ;  we  did  not  fear  even  Achilles'  self  so 
much  as  we  fear  this  man  to-day,  so  dreadful 
is  he  and  fierce.  Go,  and  we  will  make  such 
stand  meanwhile  as  we  can." 


GLAUCUS  AND  DIOMED.  ?$ 

Then  Hector  passed  through  the  ranks,  bid- 
ding them  be  of  good  heart,  and  so  departed  to 
the  city. 

And  when  he  was  gone,  Glaucus  the  Lycian 
and  Diomed  met  in  the  space  between  the  two 
hosts.  Then  first  spake  Diomed :  "  Tell  me, 
thou  mighty  man  of  valour,  who  thou  art  of 
mortal  men,  for  never  before  have  I  seen  thee 
in  the  battle ;  but  now  thou  comest  out  far 
before  the  ranks  of  thy  fellows,  and  art  willing 
to  abide  my  spear.  Luckless  are  the  fathers 
of  them  that  set  themselves  against  my  might. 
Yet,  if  thou  be  one  of  the  immortal  gods,  and 
hast  come  down  from  heaven,  I  fight  thee  not. 
I  dare  not  match  myself  with  the  gods  of 
heaven.  For  King  Lycurgus,  son  of  Dryas, 
that  fought  with  the  gods,  lived  not  long. 
Through  the  land  of  Nysa  did  he  drive  the 
nursing  mothers  of  Bacchus,  wielding  an  ox- 
goad  in  his  fury,  so  that  they  dropped  their 
wands  for  fear;  and  Bacchus  also  fled  and 
leapt  into  the  waves  of  the  salt  sea,  being  sore 
afraid;  and  Thetis  took  him  to  her  bosom. 
Nevertheless,  the  gods  that  live  at  ease  were 
wroth  with  Lycurgus,  for  all  that  he  thus  pre- 


/6  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

vailed,  and  Zeus  took  from  him  the  sight  of  his 
eyes;  nor  did  he  live  many  days,  seeing  that 
he  was  abhorred  of  all  the  gods.  Therefore,  I 
will  not  fight  against  any  god  ;  but  if  thou  art 
mortal  man,  such  as  eat  of  the  fruits  of  the 
field,  come  thou  near,  that  I  may  give  thee  to 
death." 

To  him  Glaucus  the  Lycian  made  answer : 
"  Valiant  son  of  Tydeus,  why  seekest  thou  to 
know  my  name  and  lineage,  and  the  genera- 
tions of  my  fathers?  For  the  generations  of 
men  are  as  of  the  leaves  of  the  wood.  The 
wind  scattereth  them  on  the  ground,  and  the 
wood  bringeth  forth  others  in  the  springtime. 
So  is  it  with  the  generations  of  men  —  one 
goeth,  and  another  cometh.  Yet,  if  thou  wilt 
know  these  things,  hearken  unto  me.  There 
is  in  the  midst  of  Argos  a  certain  city,  Ephyre, 
wherein  dwelt  Sisyphus,  son  of  y£olus,  that 
was  the  craftiest  of  men.  This  Sisyphus  be- 
gat Glaucus,  and  Glaucus  begat  Bellerophon, 
whom  the  gods  made  beautiful  and  strong 
above  all  other  men.  But  Proetus,  who,  by 
the  ordering  of  Zeus,  bare  rule  over  the  land 
of  Argos,  hated  him,  and  drave  him  forth  from 


GLAUCUS  AND  D 10 MED.  JJ 

among  the  people.  And  the  cause  was  this : 
fair  Anteia,  that  was  wife  to  the  King,  loved 
Bellerophon ;  but  he  would  not  hearken  to  her 
words ;  for  he  was  wise  and  upright  of  heart. 
Then  Anteia  spake  falsely  to  the  King,  her 
husband,  saying,  *  If  thou  wouldst  not  die,  O 
King,  thou  must  slay  this  Bellerophon,  for  he 
would  have  had  me  love  him,  only  I  said  him 
nay.'  So  she  spake,  and  the  King  was  very 
wroth  when  he  heard  her  saying.  He  slew  not 
Bellerophon,  for  shame  forbade  him ;  but  he 
sent  him  to  Lycia,  to  the  King,  the  father  of 
Anteia,  and  with  him  he  sent  a  token  of  death, 
folding  it  in  a  tablet,  that  he  might  show  it  to 
the  King  and  the  King  might  slay  him.  So 
Bellerophon  journeyed  to  Lycia,  and  the  gods 
kept  him  safely  on  the  way.  And  when  he 
was  come  to  the  land,  even  to  the  river  of 
Xanthus,  then  the  King  of  the  country  made 
a  great  entertainment  for  him.  Nine  days  he 
feasted  him,  slaying  on  every  day  an  ox.  And 
when  the  morning  of  the  tenth  day  was  come, 
he  inquired  of  him  his  errand,  and  would  see 
what  writing  he  had  brought.  And  when  he 
had  noted  the  token  of  death,  he  sent  Bellero- 


78  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

phon  to  slay  the  beast  which  no  man  could 
conquer,  even  the  Chimaera.  Now  this  Chi- 
maera  was  of  the  race  of  the  gods  and  not  of 
the  race  of  men.  Her  face  was  the  face  of  a 
lion,  and  her  hinder  parts  were  the  tail  of  a 
serpent,  and  her  middle  the  shape  of  a  goat, 
and  the  breath  of  her  mouth  was  flaming  fire. 
Her,  indeed,  he  slew,  for  the  gods  guided  him 
in  his  deed.  And  after  this  he  fought  with 
the  Solymi,  that  were  valiant  men  of  war; 
and  never,  he  was  wont  to  say  in  aftertime, 
did  he  encounter  warriors  so  fierce  and  strong 
as  they.  Then,  again,  he  fought  with  the 
Amazons,  that  were  women  with  the  strength 
of  men,  and  prevailed  over  them.  But  when 
he  was  coming  back  from  these  doings,  the 
King  devised  against  him  a  crafty  device. 
For  he  set  an  ambush  against  him,  choosing 
for  it  the  bravest  men  of  all  the  land  of  Lycia. 
But  not  one  man  of  these  returned  to  his 
home,  for  Bellerophon  slew  them  all.  And 
when  the  King  knew  how  valiant  he  was,  and 
that  he  was  of  the  race  of  the  gods,  he  would 
keep  him  in  the  land,  and  gave  him  his  daugh- 
ter to  his  wife,  yea,  and  with  her  the  half  of 


GLAUCUS  AND  DfOMED.  79 

his  kingdom.  The  men  of  Lycia  also  meas- 
ured out  for  him  a  fair  domain  of  vineyards 
and  plough-land.  And  his  wife  bare  to  Beller- 
ophon  three  children ;  but  after  this  the  wrath 
of  the  gods  came  upon  him,  and  he  wandered 
alone  over  the  Aleian  plain,  devouring  his 
heart  in  sorrow,  and  avoiding  the  paths  of 
men.  And  of  his  children,  Peisander,  his 
son,  fell  in  battle,  fighting  against  the  Solymi, 
and  Laodamia  died  smitten  by  the  arrow  of 
Artemis,  after  that  she  had  borne  a  son  to 
Zeus,  even  Sarpedon.  But  he  had  yet  another 
son,  by  name  Hippolochus.  He  is  my  father, 
and  he  sent  me  to  Troy,  saying  to  me,  '  Strive 
evermore  to  be  the  first  and  to  overpass  other 
men,  and  shame  not  the  house  of  thy  fathers, 
who  held  high  place  in  Ephyre  and  in  the 
broad  land  of  Lycia.'  This,  then,  noble  Dio- 
med,  is  the  house  and  lineage  of  which  I  claim 
to  be." 

So  spake  Glaucus,  and  Diomed  was  glad  at 
heart.  His  spear  he  drave  into  the  earth,  and 
he  spake  pleasant  words  to  the  prince :  "  Ver- 
ily, thou  art  by  inheritance  a  friend  of  my 
house.  For  long  ago  great  CEneus  entertained 


80  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

Bellerophon  in  his  dwelling,  keeping  him 
twenty  days.  Goodly  gifts  did  they  give  one 
to  the  other.  GEneus  gave  to  Bellerophon  a 
belt  richly  broidered  with  purple,  and  Bellero- 
phon gave  to  QEneus  a  cup  of  gold  with  a 
mouth  on  either  side.  This  I  left  when  I 
came  hither,  in  my  palace  at  home.  Now 
CEneus  begat  Tydeus,  and  Tydeus  was  my 
father.  My  father  he  was,  but  I  remember 
him  not;  for  he  left  me  when  I  was  a  little 
child,  and  perished  with  the  chiefs,  his  compan- 
ions, righting  against  Thebes.  Therefore,  I 
am  thy  friend  and  host  when  thou  comest  to 
the  land  of  Argos,  and  thou  art  mine  if  any 
chance  shall  bring  me  to  Lycia.  But  now,  let 
each  of  us  shun  the  spear  of  the  other,  yea,  in 
the  closest  press  of  the  battle.  Many  sons  of 
Troy  there  are,  and  many  of  their  brave  allies, 
whom  I  may  slay  if  the  gods  deliver  them  into 
my  hands,  and  my  feet  be  swift  to  overtake 
them.  And  thou  also  hast  many  Greeks  to 
slay  if  thou  canst.  But  now  let  us  make  ex- 
change of  arms  and  armour,  that  both  the 
Greeks  and  the  men  of  Troy  may  know  that 
we  are  friends  by  inheritance." 


GLAUCUS  AND  DIOMED.  8 1 

So  spake  Tydeus.  And  the  two  chiefs  leapt 
down  from  their  chariots,  and  clasped  each  the 
hand  of  the  other,  and  pledged  their  faith. 
Then  Zeus  changed  the  wisdom  of  Glaucus  to 
folly,  so  that  he  gave  his  armour  in  exchange 
for  the  armour  of  Diomed,  gold  for  bronze,  the 
price  of  five-score  oxen  for  the  price  of  nine. 


82  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

HECTOR    AND    ANDROMACHE. 

HECTOR  came  into  the  city  by  the  Scaean 
gates,  and  as  he  went  wives  and  mothers 
crowded  about  him,  asking  how  it  had  fared 
with  their  husbands  and  sons.  But  he  said 
nought,  save  to  bid  them  pray;  and  indeed 
there  was  sore  news  for  many,  if  he  had  told 
that  which  he  knew.  Then  he  came  to  the 
palace  of  King  Priam,  and  there  he  saw  Hec- 
uba, his  mother,  and  with  her  Laodice,  fairest 
of  her  daughters.  She  caught  him  by  the 
hand  and  said :  — 

"  Why  hast  thou  come  from  the  battle,  my 
son  ?  Do  the  Greeks  press  thee  hard,  and  art 
thou  minded  to  pray  to  Father  Zeus  from  the 
citadel  ?  Let  me  bring  thee  honey-sweet  wine, 
that  thou  mayest  pour  out  before  him,  aye,  and 
that  thou  mayest  drink  thyself,  and  gladden 
thy  heart." 

But  Hector  said :  "  Give  me  not  wine,  my 


HECTOR  AND  ANDROMACHE.  83 

mother,  lest  thou  weaken  my  knees  and  make 
me  forget  my  courage.  Nor  must  I  pour  out 
an  offering  with  Zeus  thus,  with  unwashed 
hands.  But  do  thou  gather  the  mothers  of 
Troy  together,  and  go  to  the  temple  of  Athene 
and  take  a  robe,  the  one  that  is  the  most  pre- 
cious and  beautiful  in  thy  stores,  and  lay  it  on 
the  knees  of  the  goddess,  and  pray  her  to  keep 
this  dreadful  Diomed  from  the  walls  of  Troy ; 
and  forget  not  to  vow  therewith  twelve  heifers 
as  a  sacrifice.  As  for  me,  I  will  go  and  seek 
Paris,  if  perchance  he  will  come  with  me  to 
the  war.  Would  that  the  earth  might  open 
and  swallow  him  up,  for  of  a  truth  he  is  a 
curse  to  King  Priam  and  to  Troy." 

Then  went  Queen  Hecuba  into  her  house, 
and  gave  command  to  her  maids  that  they 
should  assemble  the  aged  women  of  the  city. 
Afterwards  she  went  to  her  store-chamber, 
where  lay  the  well-wrought  robes,  work  of  Si- 
donian  women,  which  Paris  himself  brought 
from  Sidon,  when  he  sailed  upon  the  broad  sea, 
bringing  home  with  him  high-born  Helen.  The 
fairest  robe  of  all  did  the  Queen  take.  Bright 
as  a  star  it  was,  and  it  lay  the  undermost  of  all. 


84  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

And  when  she  and  the  aged  women  that 
were  with  her  came  to  the  temple  of  Athene 
that  was  in  the  citadel,  Theano,  Antenor's 
wife,  whom  the  Trojans  had  made  priestess 
of  Athene,  opened  the  doors  to  them.  They 
lifted  their  hands,  and  cried  aloud,  and  Theano 
laid  the  garment  on  the  knees  of  the  goddess, 
and  spake,  saying :  — 

"  Lady  Athene,  that  keepest  the  city,  break 
now  the  spear  of  Diomed,  and  let  him  fall 
upon  his  face  before  the  Scaean  gates.  So 
will  we  sacrifice  to  thee  twelve  heifers  that 
have  not  felt  the  goad,  if  only  thou  wilt  have 
pity  upon  our  town,  and  on  the  wives  and  little 
ones  of  the  men  of  Troy." 

So  prayed  Theano,  but  Athene  heeded  not 
her  words. 

Meanwhile  Hector  went  to  the  house  of 
Paris,  where  it  stood  on  the  citadel,  near  to  his 
own  dwelling  and  the  dwelling  of  Priam.  He 
found  him  busy  with  his  arms,  and  the  fail- 
Helen  sat  near  him  and  gave  their  tasks  to  her 
maidens. 

When  Hector  saw  his  brother,  he  spake  to 
him  bitter  words,  taunting  him,  as  if  it  were 


HECTOR  AND  ANDROMACHE.  85 

by  reason  of  his  anger  that  he  stood  aloof  from 
the  battle.  "  Verily  thou  doest  not  well  to  be 
angry.  The  people  perish  about  the  walls, 
and  the  war  burns  hot  round  the  city ;  and  all 
for  thy  sake.  Rouse  thee,  lest  it  be  con- 
sumed." 

And  Paris  answered :  "  Brother,  thou  hast 
spoken  well.  It  was  not  in  wrath  that  I  sat 
here.  I  was  vexed  at  my  sore  defeat.  But 
now  my  wife  has  urged  me  to  join  the  battle ; 
and  truly  it  is  well,  for  victory  comes  now  to 
one  and  now  to  another.  Wait  thou,  then,  till 
I  put  on  my  arms,  or,  if  thou  wouldst  depart,  I 
will  overtake  thee." 

Then  spake  Helen  with  soothing  words : 
"O  my  brother,  would  that  I  had  perished  on 
the  day  when  my  mother  bare  me !  But  if 
this  might  not  be,  would  that  the  gods  had 
made  me  the  wife  of  one  who  feared  the  blame 
of  his  fellow-men ;  but  this  man  hath  no  under- 
standing, no,  nor  ever  will  have.  Surely,  he 
shall  eat  of  the  fruit  of  his  ill-doing.  But 
come  in,  sit  thee  down  in  this  chair,  for  my 
heart  is  weary  because  of  my  sin  and  of  the 
sin  of  my  husband.  Verily  Zeus  hath  ordained 


86  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

for  us  an  evil  fate,  so  that  our  story  shall  be 
sung  in  days  that  are  yet  to  come." 

But  Hector  said :  "  Ask  me  not  to  rest,  for 
I  am  eager  to  help  the  men  of  Troy,  for  verily 
their  need  is  sore.  But  do  thou  urge  thy  hus- 
band that  he  overtake  me  while  I  am  yet 
within  the  city,  for  now  I  go  to  my  home  that 
I  may  see  my  wife  and  my  little  son,  because  I 
know  not  whether  I  shall  return  to  them  again." 

So  Hector  departed  and  went  to  his  own 
home,  seeking  his  wife  Andromache,  but  found 
her  not,  for  she  was  on  a  tower  of  the  wall 
with  her  child  and  her  child's  nurse,  weeping 
sore  for  fear.  And  Hector  spake  to  the 
maids :  — 

"  Tell  me,  whither  went  the  white-armed 
Andromache ;  to  see  some  sister-in-law,  or  to 
the  temple  of  Athene  with  the  mothers  of 
Troy?" 

"  Nay,"  said  an  aged  woman,  keeper  of  the 
house.  "  She  went  to  one  of  the  towers  of 
the  wall,  for  she  had  heard  that  the  Greeks 
were  pressing  our  people  hard.  She  hasted 
like  as  she  were  mad,  and  the  nurse  carried 
the  child." 


HECTOR  AND  ANDROMACHE.  8? 

So  Hector  ran  through  the  city  to  the  Scaean 
gates,  and  there  Andromache  spied  him,  and 
hasted  to  meet  him  —  Andromache,  daughter 
of  King  Eetion,  of  Thebe-under-Placus.  And 
with  her  was  the  nurse,  bearing  the  young 
child  on  her  bosom — Hector's  only  child, 
beautiful,  headed  as  a  star.  His  father  called 
him  Scamandrius,  after  the  river,  but  the  sons 
of  Troy  called  him  Astyanax,  the  "  City- King," 
because  it  was  his  father  who  saved  the  city. 
Silently  he  smiled  when  he  saw  the  child,  but 
Andromache  clasped  his  hand  and  wept,  and 
said :  — 

"  O  Hector,  thy  courage  will  bring  thee  to 
death.  Thou  hast  no  pity  on  thy  wife  and 
child,  but  sparest  not  thyself,  and  all  the 
Greeks  will  rush  on  thee  and  slay  thee.  It 
were  better  for  me,  losing  thee,  to  die ;  for  I 
have  no  comfort  but  thee.  My  father  is  dead, 
for  Achilles  slew  him  in  Thebe  —  slew  him 
but  spoiled  him  not,  so  much  he  reverenced 
him.  With  his  arms  he  burnt  him,  and  the 
mountain-nymphs  planted  poplars  about  his 
grave.  Seven  brethren  I  had,  and  they  all  fell 
in  one  day  by  the  hand  of  the  great  Achilles. 


88  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

And  my  mother,  she  is  dead,  for  when  she  had 
been  ransomed,  Artemis  smote  her  with  an 
arrow  in  her  father's  house.  But  thou  art 
father  to  me,  and  mother,  and  brother,  and 
husband  also.  Have  pity,  then,  and  stay  here 
upon  the  wall,  lest  thou  leave  me  a  widow  and 
thy  child  an  orphan.  And  set  the  people  here 
in  array  by  this  fig  tree,  where  the  city  is  easi- 
est to  be  taken ;  for  there  come  the  bravest  of 
the  Greeks,  Ajax  the  Greater,  and  Ajax  the 
Less,  and  Idomeneus,  and  the  two  sons  of 
Atreus,  and  the  son  of  Tydeus." 

But  Hector  said :  "  Nay,  let  these  things  be 
my  care.  I  would  not  that  any  son  or  daughter 
of  Troy  should  see  me  skulking  from  the  war. 
And  my  own  heart  loathes  the  thought,  and 
bids  me  fight  in  the  front.  Well  I  know,  in- 
deed, that  Priam,  and  the  people  of  Priam,  and 
holy  Troy,  will  perish.  Yet  it  is  not  for  Troy, 
or  for  the  people,  or  even  for  my  father  or  my 
mother  that  I  care  so  much,  as  for  thee  in  the 
day  when  some  Greek  shall  carry  thee  away 
captive,  and  thou  shalt  ply  the  loom  or  carry 
the  pitcher  in  the  land  of  Greece.  And  some 
one  shall  say  when  he  sees  thee,  *  This  was 


HECTOR  AND  ANDROMACHE.  89 

Hector's  wife,  who  was  the  bravest  of  the  sons 
of  Troy.'  May  the  earth  cover  me  before  that 
day ! " 

Then  Hector  stretched  out  his  arms  to  his 
child.  But  the  child  drew  back  into  the  bosom 
of  his  nurse,  with  a  loud  cry,  fearing  the  shin- 
ing bronze  and  the  horse-hair  plume  which 
nodded  awfully  from  his  helmet  top.  Then 
father  and  mother  laughed  aloud.  And  Hector 
took  the  helmet  from  his  head,  and  laid  it  on 
the  ground,  and  caught  his  child  in  his  hands, 
and  kissed  him  and  dandled  him,  praying  aloud 
to  Father  Zeus  and  all  the  gods. 

"Grant,  Father  Zeus  and  all  ye  gods,  that 
this  child  may  be  as  I  am,  great  among  the 
sons  of  Troy;  and  may  they  say  some  day, 
when  they  see  him  carrying  home  the  bloody 
spoils  from  the  war,  '  A  better  man  than  his 
father,  this,'  and  his  mother  shall  be  glad  at 
heart." 

Then  he  gave  the  child  to  his  mother,  and 
she  clasped  him  to  her  breast,  and  smiled  a 
tearful  smile.  And  her  husband's  heart  was 
moved ;  and  he  stroked  her  with  his  hand,  and 
spake : — 


90  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

"  Be  not  troubled  over  much.  No  man  shall 
slay  me  against  the  ordering  of  fate ;  but  as 
for  fate,  that,  methinks,  no  man  may  escape, 
be  he  coward  or  brave.  But  go,  ply  thy  tasks, 
the  shuttle  and  the  loom,  and  give  their  tasks 
to  thy  maidens,  and  let  men  take  thought  for 
the  battle." 

Then  Hector  took  up  his  helmet  from  the 
ground,  and  Andromache  went  her  way  to  her 
home,  oft  turning  back  her  eyes.  And  when 
she  was  come,  she  and  all  her  maidens  wailed 
for  the  living  Hector  as  though  he  were 
dead,  for  she  thought  that  she  should  never 
see  him  any  more  returning  safe  from  the 
battle. 

And  as  Hector  went  his  way,  Paris  came 
running,  clad  in  shining  arms,  like  to  some 
proud  steed  which  has  been  fed  high  in  his 
stall,  and  now  scours  the  plain  with  head  aloft 
and  mane  streaming  over  his  shoulders.  And 
he  spake  to  Hector :  — 

"  I  have  kept  thee,  I  fear,  when  thou  wast  in 
haste,  nor  came  at  thy  bidding." 

But  Hector  answered :  "  No  man  can  blame 
thy  courage,  only  thou  wilfully  heldest  back 


HECTOR  AND  ANDROMACHE.  91 

from  the  battle.  Therefore  do  the  sons  of 
Troy  speak  shame  of  thee.  But  now  let  us  go 
to  the  war." 

So  they  went  together  out  of  the  gates,  and 
fell  upon  the  hosts  of  the  Greeks  and  slew 
many  chiefs  of  fame,  and  Glaucus  the  Lycian 
went  with  them. 


92  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

THE    DUEL    OF    HECTOR    AND    AJAX. 

Now  when  Athene  saw  that  the  Greeks  were 
perishing  by  the  hand  of  Hector  and  his  com- 
panions, it  grieved  her  sore.  So  she  came  down 
from  the  heights  of  Olympus,  if  haply  she  might 
help  them.  And  Apollo  met  her  and  said:  — 

"  Art  thou  come,  Athene,  to  help  the  Greeks 
whom  thou  lovest  ?  Well,  let  us  stay  the  battle 
for  this  day;  hereafter  they  shall  fight  till  the 
doom  of  Troy  be  accomplished." 

But  Athene  answered, "  How  shall  we  stay  it  ?" 

And  Apollo  said,  "  We  will  set  on  Hector  to 
challenge  the  bravest  of  the  Greeks  to  fight 
with  him,  man  to  man." 

So  they  two  put  the  matter  into  the  mind  of 
Helenus  the  seer.  Then  Helenus  went  near 
to  Hector,  and  spake,  saying :  — 

"  Listen  to  me,  for  I  am  thy  brother.  Cause 
the  rest  of  the  sons  of  Troy  and  of  the  Greeks 
to  sit  down,  and  do  thou  challenge  the  bravest 


THE  DUEL   OF  HECTOR  AND  AJAX.  93 

of  the  Greeks  to  fight  with  thee,  man  to  man. 
And  be  sure  thou  shalt  not  fall  in  the  battle, 
for  the  will  of  the  immortal  gods  is  so." 

Then  Hector  greatly  rejoiced,  and  passed  to 
the  front  of  the  army,  holding  his  spear  by  the 
middle,  and  kept  back  the  sons  of  Troy ;  and 
King  Agamemnon  did  likewise  with  his  own 
people.  Then  Hector  spake :  — 

"  Hear  me,  sons  of  Troy,  and  ye  men  of 
Greece.  The  covenant  that  we  made  one  writh 
another  hath  been  broken,  for  Zeus  would  have 
it  so,  purposing  evil  to  both,  till  either  you  shall 
take  our  high-walled  city  or  we  shall  conquer 
you  by  your  ships.  But  let  one  of  you,  who  call 
yourselves  champions  of  the  Greeks,  come  forth 
and  fight  with  me,  man  to  man.  And  let  it  be 
so  that  if  he  vanquish  me  he  shall  spoil  me  of 
my  arms,  but  give  my  body  to  my  people,  that 
they  may  burn  it  with  fire  ;  and  if  I  vanquish 
him,  I  will  spoil  him  of  his  arms,  but  give  his 
body  to  the  Greeks,  that  they  may  bury  him 
and  raise  a  great  mound  above  him  by  the 
broad  salt  river  of  Hellespont.  And  so  men 
of  after  days  shall  see  it,  sailing  by,  and  say, 
1  This  is  the  tomb  of  the  bravest  of  the  Greeks, 


94  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

whom  Hector  slew.'  So  shall  my  name  live 
forever." 

But  all  the  Greeks  kept  silence,  fearing  to 
meet  him  in  battle,  but  shamed  to  hold  back. 
Then  at  last  Menelalis  leapt  forward  and 
spake :  — 

"  Surely  now  ye  are  women  and  not  men. 
Foul  shame  it  were  should  there  be  no  man  to 
stand  up  against  this  Hector.  Lo !  I  will  fight 
with  him  my  own  self,  for  the  issues  of  battle 
are  with  the  immortal  gods." 

So  he  spake  in  his  rage  rashly,  courting 
death,  for  Hector  was  much  stronger  than  he. 
Then  King  Agamemnon  answered:  — 

"  Nay,  but  this  is  folly,  my  brother.  Seek 
not  in  thy  anger  to  fight  with  one  that  is 
stronger  than  thou;  for  as  for  this  Hector, 
even  Achilles  was  loth  to  meet  him.  Sit  thou 
down  among  thy  comrades,  and  the  Greeks 
will  find  some  champion  who  shall  fight  with 
him." 

And  Menelaiis  hearkened  to  his  brother's 
words,  and  sat  down.  Then  Nestor  rose  in 
the  midst  and  spake :  — 

"  Woe  is  me  to-day  for  Greece !    How  would 


THE  DUEL   OF  HECTOR  AND  AJAX.          95 

the  old  Peleus  grieve  to  hear  such  a  tale !  Well 
I  remember  how  he  rejoiced  when  I  told  him 
of  the  house  and  lineage  of  all  the  chieftains 
of  the  Greeks,  and  now  he  would  hear  that 
they  cower  before  Hector,  and  are  sore  afraid 
when  he  calls  them  to  the  battle.  Surely  he 
would  pray  this  day  that  he  might  die!  Oh, 
that  I  were  such  as  I  was  in  the  old  days, 
when  the  men  of  Pylos  fought  with  the  Arca- 
dians by  the  stream  of  lardanus!  Now  the 
leader  of  the  Arcadians  was  Ereuthalion,  and 
he  wore  the  arms  of  Arei'thous,  whom  men 
called  '  Arei'thous  of  the  club,'  because  he  fought 
not  with  bow  or  spear,  but  with  a  club  of  iron. 
Him  Lycurgus  slew,  not  by  might,  but  by  craft, 
taking  him  in  a  narrow  place  where  his  club 
of  iron  availed  him  not,  and  smiting  him  with 
his  spear.  He  slew  him,  and  took  his  arms. 
And  when  Lycurgus  grew  old  he  gave  the 
arms  to  Ereuthalion  to  wear.  So  Ereuthalion 
wore  them,  and  challenged  the  men  of  Pylos 
to  fight  with  him.  But  they  feared  him.  Only 
I,  who  was  the  youngest  of  all,  stood  forth, 
and  Athene  gave  me  glory  that  day,  for  I  slew 
him,  though  he  was  the  strongest  and  tallest 


96  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

among  the  sons  of  men.  Would  that  I  were 
such  to-day!  Right  soon  would  I  meet  this 
mighty  Hector." 

Then  rose  up  nine  chiefs  of  fame.  First  of 
all,  King  Agamemnon,  lord  of  many  nations, 
and  next  to  him  Diomed,  son  of  Tydeus,  and 
Ajax  the  Greater,  and  Ajax  the  Less,  and  then 
Idomeneus,  and  Meriones,  who  was  his  com- 
panion in  arms,  and  Eurypylus,  and  Thoas,  son 
of  Andraemon,  and  the  wise  Ulysses. 

Then  Nestor  said,  "  Let  us  cast  lots  who 
shall  do  battle  with  the  mighty  Hector." 

So  they  threw  the  lots  into  the  helmet  of 
King  Agamemnon,  —  a  lot  for  each.  And  the 
people  prayed,  "  Grant,  ye  gods,  that  the  lot  of 
Ajax  the  Greater  may  leap  forth,  or  the  lot  of 
Diomed,  or  the  lot  of  King  Agamemnon." 
Then  Nestor  shook  the  lots  in  the  helmet,  and 
the  one  which  they  most  wished  leapt  forth. 
For  the  herald  took  it  through  the  ranks  and 
showed  it  to  the  chiefs,  but  none  knew  it  for 
his  own  till  he  came  to  where  Ajax  the  Greater 
stood  among  his  comrades.  But  Ajax  had 
marked  it  with  his  mark,  and  put  forth  his 
hand  for  it,  and  claimed  it,  right  glad  at  heart. 


THE  DUEL   OF  HECTOR  AND  AJAX.  97 

On  the  ground  by  his  feet  he  threw  it,  and 
said :  — 

"  Mine  is  the  lot,  my  friends,  and  right  glad 
I  am,  for  I  think  that  I  shall  prevail  over  the 
mighty  Hector.  But  come,  let  me  put  on  my 
arms  ;  and  pray  ye  to  Zeus,  but  silently,  lest 
the  Trojans  hear,  or  aloud,  if  ye  will,  for  no 
fear  have  we.  Not  by  force  or  craft  shall  any 
one  vanquish  me,  for  not  such  are  the  men 
whom  Salamis  breeds." 

So  he  armed  himself  and  moved  forwards, 
dreadful  as  Ares,  smiling  with  grim  face. 
With  mighty  strides  he  came,  brandishing  his 
long-shafted  spear.  And  all  the  Greeks  were 
glad  to  behold  him,  but  the  knees  of  the  Tro- 
jans were  loosened  with  fear,  and  great  Hector's 
heart  beat  fast ;  but  he  trembled  not,  nor  gave 
place,  seeing  that  he  had  himself  called  him  to 
battle.  So  Ajax  came  near,  holding  before  the 
great  shield,  like  a  wall,  which  Tychius,  best  of 
craftsmen,  had  made  for  him.  Seven  folds  of 
bull's  hide  it  had,  and  an  eighth  of  bronze. 
Threateningly  he  spake :  — 

"  Now  shalt  thou  know,  Hector,  what  manner 
of  men  there  are  yet  among  our  chiefs,  though 

G 


98  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

Achilles  the  lion-hearted  is  far  away,  sitting 
idly  in  his  tent,  in  great  wrath  with  King  Aga- 
memnon. Do  thou,  then,  begin  the  battle." 

"  Speak  not  to  me,  Zeus-descended  Ajax," 
said  Hector,  "  as  though  I  were  a  woman  or 
a  child,  knowing  nothing  of  war.  Well  I 
know  all  the  arts  of  battle,  to  ply  my  shield 
this  way  and  that,  to  guide  my  car  through 
the  tumult  of  steeds,  and  to  stand  fighting 
hand  to  hand.  But  I  would  not  smite  so 
stout  a  foe  by  stealth,  but  openly,  if  it  so 
befall." 

And  as  he  spake  he  hurled  his  long-shafted 
spear,  and  smote  the  great  shield  on  the  rim  of 
the  eighth  fold,  that  was  of  bronze.  Through 
six  folds  it  passed,  but  in  the  seventh  it  was 
stayed.  Then  Ajax  hurled  his  spear,  striking 
Hector's  shield.  Through  shield  it  passed  and 
corselet,  and  cut  the  tunic  close  against  the  loin; 
but  Hector  shrank  away  and  escaped  the  doom 
of  death.  Then,  each  with  a  fresh  spear,  they 
rushed  together  like  lions  or  wild  boars  of  the 
wood.  First  Hector  smote  the  middle  of  the 
shield  of  Ajax,  but  pierced  it  not,  for  the  spear- 
point  was  bent  back ;  then  Ajax,  with  a  great 


THE  DUEL   OF  HECTOR  AND  AJAX.  99 

bound,  drove  his  spear  at  Hector's  shield  and 
pierced  it,  forcing  him  back,  and  grazing  his 
neck  so  that  the  black  blood  welled  out.  Yet 
did  not  Hector  cease  from  the  combat.  A 
great  stone  and  rough  he  caught  up  from  the 
ground,  and  hurled  it  at  the  boss  of  the  seven- 
fold shield.  Loud  rang  the  bronze,  but  the 
shield  brake  not.  Then  Ajax  took  a  stone 
heavier  by  far,  and  threw  it  with  all  his  might. 
It  brake  the  shield  of  Hector,  and  bore  him 
backwards,  so  that  he  fell  at  length  with  his 
shield  above  him.  But  Apollo  raised  him  up. 
Then  did  both  draw  their  swords ;  but  ere  they 
could  join  in  close  battle  came  the  heralds,  and 
held  their  sceptres  between  them,  and  Id^us, 
the  herald  of  Troy,  spake :  — 

"  Fight  no  more,  my  sons ;  Zeus  loves  you 
both,  and  ye  are  both  mighty  warriors.  That 
we  all  know  right  well.  But  now  the  night 
bids  you  cease,  and  it  is  well  to  heed  its 
bidding." 

Then  said  Ajax  :  "  Nay,  Idaeus,  but  it  is  for 
Hector  to  speak,  for  he  called  the  bravest  of 
the  Greeks  to  battle.  And  as  he  wills  it,  so 
will  I." 


100  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

And  Hector  said :  "  O  Ajax,  the  gods  have 
given  thee  stature  and  strength  and  skill,  nor 
is  there  any  better  warrior  among  the  Greeks. 
Let  us  cease  then  from  the  battle ;  we  may  yet 
meet  again,  till  the  gods  give  the  victory  to  me 
or  thee.  And  now  let  us  give  gifts  the  one  to 
the  other,  so  that  Trojans  and  Greeks  may 
say,  '  Hector  and  Ajax  met  in  fierce  fight  and 
parted  in  friendship.' " 

So  Hector  gave  to  Ajax  a  silver-studded 
sword  with  the  scabbard  and  the  sword-belt, 
and  Ajax  gave  to  Hector  a  buckler  splendid 
with  purple.  So  they  parted.  Right  glad 
were  the  sons  of  Troy  when  they  saw  Hector 
returning  safe.  Glad  also  were  the  Greeks,  as 
they  led  Ajax  rejoicing  in  his  victory  to  King 
Agamemnon.  Whereupon  the  King  called  the 
chiefs  to  banquet  together,  and  bade  slay  an 
ox  of  five  years  old,  and  Ajax  he  honoured 
most  of  all,  giving  him  the  chine.  And  when 
the  feast  was  ended,  Nestor  said :  — 

"  It  were  well  that  we  should  cease  awhile 
from  war  and  burn  the  dead,  for  many,  in 
truth,  are  fallen.  And  we  will  build  a  great 
wall  and  dig  a  trench  about  it,  and  we  will 


\ 

THE  DUEL   OF  HECTOR  AND  AJAX.         IOI 

make  gates,  wide  that  a  chariot  may  pass 
through,  so  that  our  ships  may  be  safe,  if  the 
sons  of  Troy  should  press  us  hard." 

But  the  next  morning  came  a  herald  from 
Troy  to  the  chiefs,  as  they  sat  in  council  by  the 
ship  of  King  Agamemnon,  and  said :  — 

"  This  is  the  word  of  Priam  and  the  men  of 
Troy :  Paris  will  give  back  all  the  treasures  of 
the  fair  Helen,  and  many  more  besides ;  but 
the  fair  Helen  herself  he  will  not  give.  But  if 
this  please  you  not,  grant  us  a  truce,  that  we 
may  bury  our  dead." 

Then  Diomed  spake,  "  Nay,  we  will  not  take 
the  fair  Helen's  self,  for  a  man  may  know,  even 
though  he  be  a  fool,  that  the  doom  of  Troy  is 
come." 

And  King  Agamemnon  said,  "  Herald,  thou 
hast  heard  the  word  of  the  Greeks,  but  as  for 
the  truce,  be  it  as  you  will." 

So  the  next  day  they  burnt  their  dead,  and 
the  Greeks  made  a  wall  with  gates  and  dug  a 
trench  about  it.  And  when  it  was  finished, 
even  at  sunset,  they  made  ready  a  meal,  and 
lo !  there  came  ships  from  Lemnos  bringing 
wine,  and  Greeks  bought  thereof,  some  with 


102  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

bronze,  and  some  with  iron,  and  some  with 
shields  of  ox  hide.  All  night  they  feasted 
right  joyously.  The  sons  of  Troy  also  feasted 
in  their  city.  But  the  dreadful  thunder  rolled 
through  the  night,  for  Zeus  was  counselling 
evil  against  them. 


THE  BATTLE  ON  THE  PLAIN.  103 


CHAPTER    X. 

THE    BATTLE    ON    THE    PLAIN. 

WHEN  the  next  morning  came  Zeus  called 
the  gods  to  an  assembly  on  the  topmost  ridge 
of  Olympus,  and  spake  to  them,  saying :  — 

"  Hearken,  gods  and  goddesses !  Let  none 
of  you  presume  to  go  against  my  word.  Who- 
soever of  you  shall  succour  either  Greek  or 
Trojan,  him  will  I  smite  with  the  thunder,  or 
else  will  cast  him  far  down  to  the  darkness  of 
Tartarus,  whose  gates  are  iron  and  whose 
threshold  bronze,  and  he  shall  know  that  I  am 
chief  among  gods.  And  if  ye  will  make  trial 
of  my  strength,  let  down  a  chain  of  gold  from 
heaven  to  earth,  and  take  hold  thereof,  all  ye 
gods  and  goddesses.  Yet  shall  ye  not  drag 
down  Zeus,  no,  though  ye  strive  with  all  your 
might.  But  if  I  should  draw  with  all  my 
strength,  I  could  lift  you  up,  and  earth  and 
sea  with  you,  and  bind  the  chain  about  a 
horn  of  Olympus,  and  leave  you  hanging 


104  THE-  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

there.  So  much  am  I  stronger  than  all  be- 
sides." 

Then  all  the  gods  sat  silent  and  amazed. 
But  at  last  spake  Athene :  "  Surely  we  know, 
Father  Zeus,  that  thy  might  brooks  no  control. 
Yet  we  have  compassion  of  the  Greeks,  lest 
they  should  perish  altogether.  We  will  keep 
aloof  from  the  war,  according  to  thy  command, 
but  we  will  give  them  counsel." 

And  Zeus  smiled  upon  her,  and  gave  con- 
sent. Then  he  yoked  to  his  chariot  his  swift 
horses,  and  touched  them  with  his  whip. 
Midway  between  heaven  and  earth  they  flew, 
and  came  to  Ida,  the  mountain  of  many 
springs.  There  he  stayed  his  course,  and  sat 
down  amidst  the  peaks,  looking  on  the  city  of 
Troy  and  the  host  of  the  Greeks. 

The  Greeks  took  their  meal  in  haste,  and 
armed  themselves.  The  men  of  Troy  also 
made  them  ready  for  battle  in  the  city ;  fewer 
they  were  in  number  than  their  foes,  but  not 
less  eager  for  the  fight,  for  indeed  a  sore  need 
was  upon  them,  the  need  to  fight  for  children 
and  wife.  Then  the  gates  were  opened,  and 
the  people  went  quickly  forth. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  PLAIN.  105 

And  the  two  hosts  came  together,  buckler 
against  buckler,  and  spear  against  spear,  and 
the  bosses  of  the  shields  clashed  with  a  great 
ringing  sound.  While  the  day  was  increasing, 
neither  this  side  prevailed  nor  that;  but  at 
noon  Father  Zeus  stretched  on  high  his 
golden  scales,  laying  in  them  two  weights  of 
death ;  for  the  Greeks  one,  and  one  for  the 
sons  of  Troy.  By  the  middle  he  took  the 
scales,  and  let  them  hang,  and  the  scale  of 
the  Greeks  sank  lower.  Then  did  he  send  his 
blazing  bolt  among  the  people  from  the 
heights  of  Ida,  and  they  saw  it  and  were 
dismayed. 

Then  could  no  man  hold  his  ground.  Only 
Nestor  remained,  and  that  against  his  will,  for 
Paris  had  slain  one  of  his  chariot-horses  with 
an  arrow.  And  while  the  old  man  cut  away 
the  traces,  came  Hector  through  the  press. 
Then  had  the  old  man  perished,  but  Diomed 
was  swift  to  mark.  With  a  great  cry  he  called 
Ulysses,  and  said  :  — 

"  Son  of  Laertes,  whither  dost  thou  flee, 
turning  thy  back  like  a  coward  in  the  press  ? 
See  that  no  man  thrust  thee  in  the  back  with 


106  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

a  spear.  Tarry,  rather,  and  keep  back  this 
fierce  man  of  war  from  old  Nestor." 

So  he  spake,  but  Ulysses  heeded  not,  fleeing 
fast  to  the  ships. 

Then  rushed  Diomed,  alone  as  he  was,  into 
the  foremost  rank,  and  stood  before  the  chariot 
of  old  Nestor,  and  spake :  "  Old  sir,  the 
younger  fighters  press  thee  sore;  feeble  thou 
art,  and  weak  thy  charioteer,  and  thy  horses 
slow.  Come,  mount  upon  my  chariot,  and 
see  what  the  horses  of  Tros  can  do,  that  I 
took  from  ^Eneas,  —  how  they  can  flee,  and 
follow  and  speed  this  way  and  that !  To  thy 
horses  thy  charioteer  and  mine  shall  look; 
come  thou  with  me,  and  Hector  shall  see 
whether  there  is  yet  any  strength  in  the  spear 
of  Diomed." 

To  this  Nestor  gave  consent,  and  took  the 
reins  in  his  hand,  and  plied  the  whip.  Soon 
they  came  near  to  Hector,  and  Diomed  cast 
his  spear.  Hector  he  missed;  but  his  char- 
ioteer, brave  Eniopeus,  he  smote  upon  the 
breast,  so  that  he  fell  from  the  chariot,  and 
the  swift  horses  started  back.  Hector's  heart 
was  dark  with  grief  for  his  comrade;  yet  he 


\ 
THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  PLAIN.  IO/ 

let  him  lie  where  he  fell,  for  he  must  needs 
find  another  charioteer. 

Then  there  had  been  rout  among  the  men 
of  Troy,  and  they  had  been  pent  up  in  the 
city,  as  sheep  in  a  fold,  but  that  Zeus  hurled  a 
blazing  thunderbolt.  Right  before  the  chariot 
of  Diomed  did  it  fall ;  and  the  horses  crouched 
in  fear,  and  Nestor  let  fall  the  reins  from  his 
hands,  for  he  was  sore  afraid,  and  cried 
aloud :  — 

"  Son  of  Tydeus,  turn  thy  horses  to  flight ; 
seest  thou  that  Zeus  is  not  with  thee  ?  To-day 
he  giveth  glory  to  Hector;  to-morrow,  haply, 
to  thee.  The  purpose  of  Zeus  none  may 
hinder." 

Then  the  son  of  Tydeus  spake :  "  Old  sir. 
thou  sayest  well ;  but  this  goeth  to  my  heart, 
that  Hector  will  say,  '  Diomed  fled  before  me, 
seeking  the  ships.'  Then  may  the  earth 
swallow  me  up  !  " 

But  Nestor  made  reply,  "  Though  Hector 
call  thee  coward,  yet  will  not  the  sons  of  Troy 
believe  him,  nor  the  daughters  whose  gallant 
husbands  thou  hast  tumbled  in  the  dust." 

Then  he  turned  his  horses,  and  fled.     But 


108  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

Hector  cried  after  him :  "  Art  thou  the  man  to 
whom  the  Greeks  give  high  place  in  the  feast, 
and  plenteous  cups  of  wine  ?  Not  so  will  they 
honour  thee  hereafter.  Run,  girl !  run,  coward  ! 
Shalt  thou  climb  our  walls,  and  carry  away 
our  daughters  in  thy  ships  ? " 

Then  Diomed  was  very  wroth,  doubting 
whether  to  flee  or  to  turn;  but  when  he 
turned  Zeus  thundered  from  on  high,  making 
him  afraid.  And  Hector  bade  the  hosts  of 
Troy  be  of  good  courage,  for  that  Zeus  was 
with  them,  and  called  to  his  horses:  "Come, 
now,  Bayard,  and  Whitefoot,  and  Flame  of  Fire, 
and  Brilliant;  forget  not  how  the  fair  An- 
dromache has  cared  for  you ;  aye,  even  before 
me,  who  am  her  husband.  Carry  me  fast,  that 
I  may  win  old  Nestor's  shield,  which  men  say 
is  all  of  gold,  and  strip  from  the  shoulders  of 
Diomed  the  breastplate  which  Hephaestus 
wrought." 

So  the  Greeks  fled  headlong  within  the  wall 
which  they  had  built,  Hector  driving  them  be- 
fore him,  and  all  the  space  between  the  wall 
and  the  ships  was  crowded  with  chariots  and 
with  men.  Then  verily  had  Hector  burned 


THE  BATTLE   OF  THE  PLAIN.  109 

the  ships,  had  not  Hera  put  it  in  the  heart 
of  King  Agamemnon  to  exhort  the  Greeks  to 
battle.  On  the  ship  of  Ulysses,  that  was  mid- 
most of  all,  he  stood,  so  that  he  could  shout  to 
either  end,  to  where  Ajax  the  Greater  on  one 
side,  and  Achilles  on  the  other,  had  drawn  up 
their  ships.  And  he  cried  aloud :  — 

^Shame  on  y_ou,  ye  Greeks !  Where  are 
now  your  boastings  wherewith  ye  boasted  in 
Lemnos,  as  ye  ate  the  flesh  of  cattle,  and  drank 
from  the  brimming  bowls  of  wine,  how  one 
man  of  you  would  outmatch  five  score,  yea, 
ten  score,  of  the  sons  of  Troy  ?  And  now  one 
single  man  is  of  more  worth  than  you  all !  O 
Father  Zeus,  hast  thou  ever  afflicted  any  king 
in  such  fashion  ?  and  yet  have  I  never  passed 
by  altar  of  thine,  but  burnt  on  it  the  fat  of 
beeves,  praying  that  I  might  take  the  city  of 
Troy.  Grant  us,  now,  that  we  may  at  least 
escape  with  our  lives." 

And  Zeus  hearkened  to  his  prayer,  and  sent 
a  sign  from  heaven,  an  eagle  that  held  a  kid 
m  his  claw;  by  the  altar  of  Zeus,  the  god  of 
warning,  did  he  drop  it,  and  the  Greeks, 
when  they  saw  it,  took  heart,  and  leaped  upon 


I  10  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

the  men   of   Troy,  and  rejoiced  again  in  the 
battle. 

Foremost  of  all  was  Diomed,  who  slew  a 
Trojan,  Agelaiis  by  name.  Through  the  back 
he  pierced  him  with  his  spear,  driving  it  through 
his  breast,  and  tumbled  him  from  his  chariot. 

After  him  came  the  sons  of  Atreus,  and 
either  Ajax,  and  Idomeneus,  and  all  the  chiefs, 
and  among  them  Teucer,  who  stood  beneath 
the  shield  of  Ajax  Telamon,  as  he  bent  his 
bow.  Ajax  would  lift  his  shield  a  little,  and 
Teucer,  peering  out,  would  shoot  a  warrior  in 
the  throng.  Then  would  he  go  back  as  a  child 
to  his  mother,  and  Ajax  would  hide  him  be- 
neath his  shield.  Eight  warriors  did  he  slay ; 
and  when  Agamemnon  saw  him,  he  came  near, 
and  spake,  saying :  "  Shoot  on,  Teucer,  and  be 
a  light  to  thy  people  and  to  thy  father  Tela- 
mon. Surely  when  Zeus  and  Athene  shall 
grant  me  the  spoil  of  Troy,  to  thee,  first  after 
myself,  will  I  give  a  goodly  gift." 

Teucer  made  reply :  "  Why  dost  thou  urge 
me  on  that  am  myself  so  eager  ?  Never  have 
I  ceased  to  ply  them  with  mine  arrows,  ac- 
cording to  my  strength.  Eight  shafts  have  I 


THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  PLAIN.  1 1 1 

launched,  and  every  shaft  has  been  buried  in  a 
warrior's  flesh ;  but  that  man  I  cannot  strike." 

He  spake,  and  shed  another  arrow  from  the 
string,  aiming  at  Hector.  Him  he  touched 
not,  but  he  slew  a  son  of  Priam.  Yet  once 
again  he  shot,  and  slew  this  time  the  charioteer 
of  Hector,  striking  him  full  upon  the  breast,  as 
he  rushed  into  battle.  Then  Hector's  heart 
grew  dark  with  rage  and  grief.  He  bade  his 
brother  Cebriones  take  the  reins.  Then  he 
leapt  from  his  chariot  to  the  ground,  and 
caught  a  stone  in  his  hand,  and  went  towards 
Teucer,  desiring  to  crush  him.  Then  Teucer 
took  an  arrow  from  the  quiver  and  fitted  it  on 
the  string,  but  as  he  drew  the  arrow  to  his 
shoulder,  Hector  smote  him  where  the  collar- 
bone stands  between  neck  and  breast,  and 
snapped  the  bow-string,  and  numbed  arm  and 
wrist,  so  that  the  bow  flew  from  his  hand, 
and  he  fell  upon  his  knee.  But  Ajax  bestrode 
him,  covering  him  with  his  shield,  and  two  of 
his  comrades  bare  him,  groaning  deeply,  to  the 
ships. 

Then  again  did  Zeus  put  courage  into  the 
hearts  of  the  men  of  Troy,  and  they  thrust  the 


112  7 HE  STORY  OF  THE   ILIAD. 

Greeks  back  to  the  ditch;  and  Hector  moved 
ever  in  the  front,  rejoicing  in  his  strength. 
Even  as  a  dog  pursues  a  wild  boar  or  a  lion, 
and  catches  him  by  hip  or  thigh,  so  did  Hector 
hang  upon  the  Greeks,  and  smite  the  hindmost 
as  they  fled. 

But  Hera  saw  and  pitied  them,  and  spake  to 
Athene :  "  Shall  not  thou  and  I  have  pity  on 
the  Greeks  once  again,  if  never  more  ?  Haply 
they  will  perish  beneath  the  onslaught  of  Hec- 
tor, who  hath  already  wrought  them  manifold 


woe." 


Athene  made  reply :  "  It  is  my  father,  who 
hath  listened  to  Thetis,  when  .she  besought 
him  to  give  honour  to  Achilles.  But  another 
day,  may  be,  he  will  hearken  unto  me.  Make 
ready,  therefore,  the  horses,  while  I  arm  myself 
for  the  war.  We  will  see  whether  Hector  will 
be  glad  when  he  beholds  thee  and  me  in  the 
forefront  of  the  battle." 

So  Hera  made  ready  the  chariot,  and 
Athene  armed  herself  for  the  war.  And  when 
she  was  armed,  Hera  lashed  the  horses,  and 
the  great  gates  of  heaven,  where  the  Hours 
keep  watch,  opened  before  them. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  PLAIN.  113 

But  Zeus  saw  them  from  Ida,  and  said  to 
Iris  of  the  golden  wings:  "  Go  now,  swift  Iris, 
bid  these  two  not  come  face  to  face  with  me, 
for  our  meeting  would  be  ill  for  them.  Verily 
I  will  hough  their  horses,  and  cast  them  from 
their  chariot,  and  break  the  chariot  in  pieces. 
Not  for  ten  years  would  they  recover  of  their 
wounds  should  the  lightning  smite  them." 

So  Iris  hasted  on  her  way,  and  gave  the  two 
goddesses  the  Father's  message. 

Then  spake  Hera  to  Athene :  "  No  more  do 
I  counsel  that  we  two  should  do  battle  with 
Zeus  for  the  sake  of  mortal  men.  Let  this  one 
perish  and  that  live,  as  it  may  befall,  and  Zeus 
dispense  his  judgments,'  as  is  meet  and  fit." 

So  they  two  went  back  to  Olympus,  and  sat 
down  in  their  chairs  of  gold,  among  the  other 
gods,  right  heavy  of  heart. 

Zeus  also  hastened  from  Ida  to  Olympus, 
and  came  into  the  assembly  of  the  gods ;  but 
Hera  and  Athene  sat  apart,  and  spake  not,  and 
asked  no  question. 

Then  said  Zeus:  "Why  are  ye  so  cast  down? 
Surely  ye  are  not  wearied  with  the  war,  with 
slaying  th^  Trojans  whom  ye  hate  so  sore.  All 

H 


114  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

the  gods  of  Olympus  may  not  overbear  me ;  and 
ye  two  tremble,  or  ever  ye  have  looked  on  war." 

He  spake,  and  the  two  goddesses  murmured 
where  they  sat  side  by  side.  Athene  kept 
silence  for  all  her  wrath;  but  Hera  spake, 
"  Well  do  we  know,  son  of  Chronos,  that  thy 
might  is  beyond  all  bounds;  nevertheless  ^ve_ 
pity  the  Greeks,  lest  they  fill  up  the  measure 
of  their  fate  and  die." 

Then  Zeus  spake  again,  "To-morrow,  Queen 
Hera,  shalt  thou  see  worse  things  than  these ; 
for  great  Hector  will  not  cease  from  his  slay- 
ing till  the  son  of  Peleus  be  roused  by  his 
ships,  in  the  day  when  they  shall  fight  about 
the  dead  Patroclus  in  the  dark  press  of  men." 

And  now  the  sun  sank  into  the  sea ;  wroth 
were  the  Trojans  that  the  light  should  go,  but 
to  the  Greeks  welcome,  much  prayed  for,  came 
the  night 

Then  Hector  called  the  men  of  Troy  to  an 
assembly.  In  his  hand  he  held  a  spear  eleven 
cubits  long,  with  flaming  point  of  bronze,  and 
circled  with  gold  ;  on  it  he  leant  and  spake :  — 

"  Give  ear,  ye  Trojans,  Dardans,  and  allies ! 
I  thought  this  day  to  destroy  the  hosts  of  the 


THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  PLAIN.  115 

Greeks  and  their  ships,  and  so  to  return  to 
Troy;  but  night  hath  hindered  me.  Let  us 
yield  to  night,  and  take  our  meal.  Unharness 
your  horses  and  feed  them.  Fetch  also  from 
the  city  kine,  and  sheep,  and  wine,  and  bread, 
and  store  of  fuel  also,  that  we  may  burn  many 
fires,  lest,  haply,  the  Greeks  escape  across  the 
sea  in  the  night.  Not  in  peace  shall  they 
embark,  but  each  shall  carry  away  a  wound 
to  nurse  at  home  that  others  may  not  seek 
to  trouble  the  men  of  Troy  with  war.  Also 
let  the  heralds  make  proclamation  in  the  city, 
that  the  lads  and  the  old  men  should  guard 
the  wall,  and  that  every  woman  should  light 
a  great  fire  in  her  house,  and  that  all  should 
keep  watch,  lest  an  ambush  should  enter  the 
city  while  the  people  are  away.  So  much  to- 
day; but  to-morrow  I  will  speak  other  words 
to  you.  In  the  morning  will  we  arm  ourselves, 
and  wake  the  war  beside  the  ships.  Then 
shall  I  know  whether  Diomed  will  drive  me 
from  the  wall,  or  I  slay  him  with  the  spear. 
Would  that  I  were  immortal  and  held  in 
honour  as  are  the  gods,  as  surely  as  to- 
morrow will  bring  ruin  on  the  Greeks." 


Il6  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

So  Hector  spake,  and  all  the  Trojans  shouted 
their  assent.  They  loosed  their  horses,  and 
fetched  provender  from  the  city,  and  gathered 
store  of  fuel.  All  night  long  they  sat  high  in 
hope  ;  and  as  on  some  windless  night  the  stars 
shine  bright  about  the  moon,  and  all  the  crags 
and  dells  are  shown,  and  the  tops  of  the  hills 
also,  and  the  depths  of  the  sky  are  open,  and 
all  the  stars  appear,  and  the  shepherd's  heart  is 
glad  ;  so  many  showed  the  Trojan  fires  between 
the  stream  of  Xanthus  and  the  ships.  A 
thousand  fires  were  burning,  and  fifty  sat  in 
the  glare  of  each  ;  and  the  horses  stood  beside 
the  chariots  champing  barley  and  spelt,  and 
waited  for  the  morn. 


THE  EMBASSY  TO  ACHILLES. 


CHAPTER   XL 

THE    EMBASSY    TO    ACHILLES. 

WHILE  the  Trojans  watched  with  good  hope, 
the  Greeks  were  possessed  with  fear.  And 
King  Agamemnon  was  troubled  beyond  all 
others.  He  bade  the  heralds  call  every  man 
to  the  assembly,  bidding  them  severally  with- 
out making  proclamation.  Gloomily  they  sat, 
and  when  the  King  rose  up  to  speak,  his  tears 
dropped  down,  as  the  waters  drop  down  a  steep 
cliff-side  from  some  spring  which  the  sunshine 
toucheth  not.  Thus  he  spake :  "  O  friends, 
lords  and  leaders  of  the  Greeks,  verily  Zeus 
dealeth  ill  with  me.  Once  he  promised  that 
I  should  take  the  city  of  Troy  and  so  return 
home  ;  but  now  he  hath  deceived  me,  bidding 
me  go  back  dishonoured,  having  lost  much 
people.  Thus  indeed  do  I  now  read  his  de- 
cree. Wherefore  let  us  flee  with  our  ships  to 
the  land  of  our  fathers,  for  Troy  we  may  not 
take." 


Il8  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

Long  time  the  chiefs  kept  silence,  for  they 
were  out  of  heart;  but  at  the  last  rose  Diomed, 
and  spake  :  "  Be  not  wroth,  O  King,  if  I  con- 
tend with  this  thy  madness.  Thou  hast  called 
me  laggard  and  coward  ;  whether  I  be  so  in- 
deed the  Greeks  know  well,  both  young  and 
old.  But  to  thee  Zeus  hath  given  lordship 
and  the  power  of  the  sceptre  above  thy  fellows ; 
but  courage  he  hath  not  given,  and  courage  is 
best  of  all.  Now  if  thine  heart  be  bent  upon 
return,  go  thou ;  the  way  is  nigh,  and  thy  ships 
are  by  the  sea ;  but  all  the  other  Greeks  will 
abide  till  they  have  taken  Troy.  Yea,  and  if 
these  also  will  go,  then  we  two,  I  and  Sthenelus, 
will  abide  and  fight  till  we  make  an  end  of  the 
city,  for  it  was  the  gods  that  sent  us  hither." 

Then  Nestor  spake :  "  Thou  art  brave  in 
war,  son  of  Tydeus,  and  excellent  in  council 
above  thy  fellows.  In  what  thou  hast  said 
none  will  gainsay  thee.  But  now  let  us  take 
our  meal ;  and  let  sentinels  watch  along  the 
trench.  And  do  thou,  son  of  Atreus,  make 
a  feast  for  thy  chiefs,  as  is  meet.  And  him 
who  counsels  thee  most  wisely  thou  must 
follow.  Sorely  do  we  need  wise  counsel,  see- 


THE  EMBASSY  TO  ACHILLES.  1 19 

ing  that  the  enemy  have  so  many  fires  near 
our  ships.  Verily  this  night  will  save  our 
army  or  destroy." 

So  King  Agamemnon  called  the  chiefs  to  a 
feast ;  and  when  the  feast  was  ended  Nestor 
rose  up  and  spake :  "  Zeus  hath  made  thee 
King  over  many  nations,  that  thou  mayest  deal 
wisely  with  them.  Therefore  it  is  thy  part  to 
listen  to  the  word  of  another  when  he  shall 
speak  that  which  is  profitable.  Evil  was  the 
day,  O  King,  when  thou  didst  send  and  take 
the  damsel  Brisei's  from  the  tent  of  Achilles. 
The  chiefs  of  the  Greeks  consented  not  to  thy 
deed.  And  I  would  fain  have  persuaded  thee 
to  forbear,  but  thou  wouldst  not  hearken,  but 
didst  listen  to  the  counsel  of  pride,  working 
shame  to  the  bravest  of  the  people,  and  taking 
from  him  the  reward  of  his  labours.  Let  us 
therefore  take  thought  how  we  may  best 
appease  him  with  noble  gifts  and  pleasant 
words." 

Then  said  King  Agamemnon :  "  These  are 
true  words  that  thou  hast  spoken,  old  man. 
Truly  I  did  as  a  fool  that  day,  and  I  deny  it 
not.  For  he  that  is  loved  of  Zeus  is  of  more 


120  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

worth  than  whole  armies  of  men ;  and  verily 
Zeus  loveth  this  man,  seeing  that  he  putteth 
the  Greeks  to  flight  that  he  may  do  him 
honour.  But  even  as  I  wronged  him  in  my 
folly,  so  will  I  make  amends,  and  give  a  recom- 
pense beyond  all  telling.  And  now  I  will  de- 
clare before  you  all  the  gifts  that  I  will  give : 
seven  tripods  that  the  fire  hath  never  touched, 
and  ten  talents  of  gold,  and  twenty  shining 
caldrons,  and  twelve  stout  horses,  that  have 
won  prizes  in  the  race  by  fleetness  of  foot. 
No  beggar  were  he,  nor  without  store  of  pre- 
cious gold,  who  should  hold  all  that  my  horses 
have  won  for  me.  And  seven  women  will  I 
give  him,  skilled  in  excellent  handiwork, 
daughters  of  Lesbos,  fairer  than  all  women 
else,  whom  I  chose  for  my  portion  of  the  spoil 
in  the  day  when  he  took  Lesbos  by  the  might 
of  his  arm.  These  will  I  give  him,  and  with 
them  the  damsel  Briseis,  even  as  I  took  her 
from  him.  And  if  the  gods  shall  grant  us  to 
destroy  the  great  city  of  Priam,  then  let  him 
come  when  we  divide  the  spoil,  and  choose  for 
himself  twenty  women  of  Troy,  the  fairest 
there  be  after  Argive  Helen.  And  if  he  come 


THE  EMBASSY  TO  ACHILLES.  121 

again  to  the  land  of  Greece,  then  shall  he  be 
my  son,  and  I  will  honour  him  even  as  I 
honour  Orestes.  Three  daughters  have  I  in 
my  palace  at  home,  Chrysothemis,  and  Lao- 
dice,  and  Iphianassa.  Let  him  choose  which 
of  them  he  will,  and  take  her,  unbought  by 
wooer's  gift,  to  the  hall  of  Peleus.  Yea,  and 
I  will  give  with  her  a  great  dower  also,  such  as 
man  never  yet  gave  to  his  daughter.  Seven 
fair  cities  will  I  give  him,  with  pasture-lands  and 
vineyards,  wherein  dwell  men  that  have  many 
flocks  and  herds,  who  will  honour  him  with 
gifts  even  as  men  honour  a  god,  and  will  fulfil 
his  commands.  All  this  will  I  give  him,  if  so 
be  that  he  will  cease  from  his  anger.  Let  him 
yield ;  for  only  Death  of  all  things  that  are 
yieldeth  not,  wherefore  Death  is  abhorred  of 
all  men." 

To  him  Nestor  made  answer :  "  No  man 
may  lightly  esteem  the  gifts  that  thou  givest 
to  great  Achilles.  Come,  therefore,  let  us 
choose  men  that  they  may  go  with  all  speed 
to  his  tent.  Let  Phcenix,  who  is  beloved  of 
Zeus,  lead  the  way ;  and  let  Ajax  the  Greater 
and  Ulysses  go  with  him,  and  two  heralds  also. 


122  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

And  now  let  men  bring  water  for  our  hands, 
and  let  all  keep  silence  while  we  pray  to  Zeus, 
that  he  may  have  mercy  upon  us." 

Then  the  heralds  poured  water  on  their 
hands,  and  filled  the  bowls  full  with  wine. 
And,  when  they  had  made  libation  to  the 
gods,  they  drank,  and  so  came  forth  from  the 
tent  of  the  King.  And  Nestor  charged  them 
all,  but  chiefly  Ulysses,  of  what  they  should 
say,  and  how  they  might  best  persuade  the 
son  of  Peleus. 

So  they  went  by  the  shore  of  the  sea ;  and, 
as  they  went,  they  made  instant  prayer  to  the 
god  that  shakes  the  earth  that  they  might  turn 
the  heart  of  Achilles.  And  when  they  came 
to  the  ships  of  the  Myrmidons,  they  found  the 
King  taking  his  pleasure  with  a  harp,  fairly 
wrought,  with  a  crossbar  of  silver  upon  it,  that 
he  had  taken  from  the  spoil  of  Thebe-under- 
Placus,  that  was  the  city  of  King  Ee'tion. 
There  he  sat,  delighting  his  soul  with  music, 
and  sang  the  deeds  of  heroes  of  old  time. 
And  Patroclus  sat  over  against  him  in  silence, 
waiting  till  he  should  cease  from  his  singing. 
Then  the  two  chiefs  came  forward,  Ulysses 


THE  EMBASSY  TO  ACHILLES.  123 

leading  the  way,  and  stood  before  the  face 
of  Achilles ;  and  Achilles  leapt  up  in  much 
amaze,  holding  the  harp  in  his  hand.  And 
Patroclus  rose  also  from  his  seat  when  he  saw 
the  twain.  Then  said  Achilles,  fleet  of  foot, 
"  Welcome  ye  are,  and  right  dear  to  me,  for 
all  my  anger." 

So  spake  Achilles,  and  led  them  forward  ; 
and  he  bade  them  sit  on  seats  that  were  cov- 
ered with  coverlets  of  purple.  Then  said  he 
to  Patroclus,  "  Bring  forth  the  biggest  bowl, 
and  mingle  drinks  of  the  strongest,  for  each 
man  a  cup,  for  I  have  not  dearer  friends  than 
these  that  are  come  beneath  my  roof  this  day." 

And  Patroclus  hearkened  to  his  words. 
And  afterwards  he  set  before  the  heat  of  the 
fire  a  mighty  fleshing-block ;  and  he  laid  upon 
it  the  back  of  a  sheep  and  of  a  fatted  goat, 
and  a  hog's  chine  also  rich  with  fat.  And 
Automedon,  that  was  charioteer  to  Achilles, 
held  the  flesh,  and  Achilles  carved  it.  Well 
did  he  carve  it,  and  spitted  it  upon  spits,  and 
Patroclus  made  the  fire  burn  high.  And  when 
the  flames  had  died  away,  he  smoothed  down 
the  embers,  and  laid  the  spits  with  the  flesh 


124  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

upon  the  spit-racks  above  them,  sprinkling 
them  first  with  salt.  And  when  the  flesh 
was  broiled,  he  portioned  it  forth  upon  plat- 
ters ;  and  afterwards  took  bread,  and  set  it 
upon  the  table  in  baskets.  Then  Achilles 
sat  himself  down  over  against  Ulysses  by  the 
other  wall  of  the  tent.  And  Patroclus  did 
sacrifice  to  the  gods  at  his  bidding,  casting 
the  first-fruits  into  the  fire.  After  this  the 
chiefs  stretched  forth  their  hands  to  the  meat 
that  lay  ready  before  them.  And  when  they 
had  done  with  the  desire  for  food  and  drink, 
Ajax  nodded  to  Phcenix  that  he  should  speak ; 
but  Ulysses  perceived  it,  and  was  beforehand 
with  him,  and  filled  a  cup  with  wine,  and 
pledged  Achilles,  and  spake :  "  Hail,  Achilles ! 
No  lack  have  we  had  of  feasting  before  in  the 
tent  of  King  Agamemnon  and  now  in  thine; 
but  it  is  not  of  feasting  that  we  think  this 
day ;  for  we  behold  a  sore  destruction  close  at 
hand,  and  are  afraid.  Verily,  we  are  in  doubt 
whether  or  no  we  may  save  our  ships,  unless 
thou  wilt  gird  on  thy  might  again.  For  in- 
deed this  day  the  men  of  Troy  and  their  allies 
came  near  to  the  ships  to  burn  them  with  fire. 


- 

THE  EMBASSY  TO  ACHILLES.  12$ 

And  Zeus  shows  them  favourable  signs,  even 
lightning  on  the  right  hand.  As  for  Hector, 
he  rages  furiously,  trusting  in  Zeus,  and  cares 
not  aught  for  god  or  man.  Verily,  even  now 
is  he  praying  that  the  morning  may  appear; 
for  he  vows  that  he  will  cut  off  their  ensigns 
from  our  ships,  —  yea,  and  burn  the  ships  with 
fire,  and  make  havoc  of  the  Greeks  while  they 
are  dazed  with  the  smoke  of  the  burning. 
Sorely  do  I  fear  in  my  heart  lest  the  god  ful- 
fil his  threats,  and  doom  us  to  perish  here  in 
Troy,  far  from  the  plains  of  Argos.  Up,  there- 
fore, if  thou  art  minded  even  now  to  save  the 
Greeks !  Delay  not,  lest  thou  repent  here- 
after, for  there  is  no  remedy  for  that  which 
is  done.  Did  not  the  old  man  Peleus,  thy 
father,  in  the  day  when  he  sent  thee  from 
Phthia  to  King  Agamemnon,  give  thee  this 
commandment,  saying :  '  My  son,  Athene  and 
Hera  will  give  thee  strength,  if  it  be  their 
will ;  but  do  thou  restrain  thy  pride  of  heart, 
for  gentleness  is  better  than  pride ;  and  keep 
thee  from  strife,  that  the  Greeks,  both  young 
and  old,  may  honour  thee  the  more '  ?  So  the 
old  man  crave  thee  commandment,  but  thou 


126  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

forgettest  his  words.  Yet  even  now  cease 
from  thy  anger.  Verily,  Agamemnon  offereth 
thee  worthy  gifts,  so  that  thou  put  away  thy 
wrath  —  ten  tripods  that  have  not  felt  the  fire, 
and  ten  talents  of  gold,  and  twenty  shining  cal- 
drons, and  twelve  stout  horses  that  have  won 
much  wealth  for  Agamemnon  by  fleetness  of 
foot,  and  seven  women,  daughters  of  Lesbos, 
skilful  in  handiwork,  and  fairer  than  all  their 
kind ;  and  Brisei's  herself  he  will  restore  to 
thee,  even  as  he  took  her  from  thee.  All 
these  things  will  he  give ;  and  if  we  take  the 
great  city  of  Priam,  twenty  daughters  of  Troy, 
fairest  of  women,  after  Argive  Helen.  And 
when  we  shall  go  back  to  Greece,  thou  shalt 
have  his  daughter  to  wife,  her  whom  thou 
shalt  choose,  and  pay  no  gifts  of  wooing  for  her, 
but  rather  have  such  dowry  as  never  king  gave 
with  his  daughter  before:  seven  cities  shalt 
thou  have,  lying  all  of  them  near  to  the  sea,  a 
land  of  vineyards,  and  cornfields,  whose  folk 
shall  pay  thee  tribute  and  honour.  But_Jf 
thou  yet  hate  from  thy  heart  Agamemnon  and 
his  gifts,  then  I  pray  thee  have  pity  upon  the 
Greeks,  who  will  honour  thee  even  as  men 


.  \ 

THE  EMBASSY  TO  ACHILLES.  1 27 

honour  a  god.  Hector,  too,  thou  mayest  slay, 
for  he  will  come  near  thee  in  his  madness,  for 
he  deems  that  there  is  not  a  man  of  all  the 
Greeks  that  can  stand  against  him." 

To  him  Achilles,  fleet  of  foot,  made  answer : 
"  Son  of  Laertes,  plain  shall  be  my  speech, 
setting  forth  my  thought  and  the  steadfast  pur- 
pose of  my  heart ;  for  J  would  not  have  you 
sit  before  me,  seeking  to  coax  me,  one  man 
this  way  and  another  another.  As  for  the 
man  that  hideth  one  thing  in  his  heart,  and 
speaketh  another  with  his  lips,  I  hate  him  as  I 
hate  the  gates  of  death.  Tell  me,  why  should 
a  man  do  battle  without  ceasing  with  the  foe  ? 
Surely  it  is  a  thankless  work,  for  he  that  abid- 
eth  at  home  hath  equal  share  with  him  that  3t| 
ceaseth  not  from  battle,  and  the  coward  hath 
like  honour  with  the  brave,  and  death  cometh 
with  equal  foot  to  him  that  toileth  not  and  to 
him  that  ceaseth  not  from  toil.  No  profit  have 
I  had  for  all  the  tribulation  that  I  have  endured, 
ever  staking  my  life  in  the  battle.  For  even 
as  a  bird  carrieth  morsels  to  her  unfledged 
brood,  but  herself  fareth  ill,  so  passed  I  many 
sleepless  nights,  and  fought  for  many  toil- 


128  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

some  days.  Twelve  cities  laid  I  waste,  sailing 
thereto  on  ships,  and  eleven  whereunto  I  jour- 
neyed by  land,  all  in  this  fair  land  of  Troy; 
and  out  of  all  I  took  many  and  fair  possessions. 
And  these  I  carried  to  King  Agamemnon ; 
and  he,  ever  abiding  at  the  ships,  portioned 
out  a  few  to  others,  but  kept  the  most  himself. 
And  what  he  gave  to  the  other  princes  or  the 
host  he  left  to  them ;  but  from  me,  only  from 
me  among  all  the  Greeks,  he  took  away  the 
gift  that  he  had  given.  Yea,  he  took  from  me 
the  lady  whom  I  loved.  He  took  her;  let  him 
keep  her,  if  he  will.  Why  must  the  Greeks 
make  war  against  the  sons  of  Troy?  Why 
did  the  sons  of  Atreus  gather  this  host  to- 
gether, and  lead  them  to  this  land  ?  Was  it 
not  for  fair-haired  Helen's  sake  ?  Tell  me, 
then,  do  the  sons  of  Atreus  alone  of  all  men 
love  their  wives  ?  Nay,  but  whosoever  is  good 
and  sound  of  heart  loveth  his  wife  and  cherish- 
eth  her,  even  as  I  loved  mine,  though  I  won 
her  by  my  spear.  He  took  her  from  me,  and 
deceived  me;  let  him  not  make  trial  of  me 
again,  for  I  know  him  well,  and  he  shall  not 
prevail  with  me.  Let  him  take  counsel  now 


THE  EMBASSY  TO  ACHILLES.  1 29 

with  thee,  Ulysses,  and  with  the  other  princes 
of  the  host,  how  he  may  keep  from  the  ships 
the  devouring  fire.  Many  things  hath  he  done 
without  my  help,  building  a  wall  and  digging 
a  ditch  about  it,  both  wide  and  deep,  and  set- 
ting stakes  in  the  ditch ;  yet  for  all  this  can  he 
not  keep  Hector  from  the  ships.  And  yet, 
when  I  fought  in  the  host  of  the  Greeks,  this 
Hector  dared  not  set  his  army  in  array  far 
from  the  walls,  but  scarce  came  to  the  Scaean 
gates  and  the  fig  tree.  Once  did  he  await  me 
there  to  do  battle,  man  against  man,  and 
scarce  escaped  my  spear.  But  now,  seeing 
that  I  have  no  mind  to  fight  with  him,  I  will 
do  sacrifice  to-morrow  to  Zeus  and  all  the 
gods,  and  I  will  store  my  ships  and  launch 
them  on  the  sea.  Yea,  to-morrow,  right  early 
in  the  morning,  thou  shalt  see  them,  if  thou 
wilt,  sailing  along  the  Hellespont,  and  my  men 
toiling  eagerly  at  the  oar;  and  if  the  god  that 
shaketh  the  earth  grants  me  a  fair  journey,  on 
the  third  morning  shall  I  come  to  the  fair  land 
of  Phthia.  There  is  all  the  wealth  that  I  left 
behind  me  when  I  came  to  Troy ;  and  hence  I 
shall  carry  with  me  yet  more  of  gold  and 

I 


130  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

bronze  and  iron,  and  fair  women  slaves,  my 
portion  of  the  spoil.  My  portion  they  are,  but 
my  choicest  gift  King  Agamemnon  has  taken 
from  me ;  he  took  it,  having  given  it  himself. 
Never  will  I  take  counsel  with  him  again,  nor 
bear  him  company  in  battle ;  once  hath  he 
deceived  me;  let  this  suffice.  He  shall  not 
beguile  me  again  with  lying  speech.  And  as 
for  his  gifts,  I  scorn  them ;  though  he  give  me 
tenfold,  yea,  twentyfold,  all  that  he  now  hath 
promised,  though  it  be  as  the  wealth  of  Thebes 
that  is  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  and  than  Thebes, 
I  ween,  there  is  no  wealthier  city.  A  hundred 
gates  it  hath,  and  from  each  gate  two  hundred 
warriors  issue  forth  with  horses  and  chariots. 
Yea,  verily,  though  he  give  me  gifts  as  the 
sand  of  the  sea  for  multitude,  he  shall  not  per- 
suade me,  till  he  shall  have  endured  like  bitter- 
ness of  soul  with  mine.  And  his  daughter  I 
will  not  wed  —  no,  not  though  she  be  as  fair  as 
golden  Aphrodite,  and  match  Athene  of  the 
flashing  eyes  in  skill  of  handiwork.  Let  him 
choose  him,  forsooth,  from  among  the  Greeks 
some  kinglier  son-in-law  than  I,  and  for  me,  if 
the  gods  bring  me  safe  to  my  home,  Peleus 


THE  EMBASSY  TO  ACHILLES.  131 

shall  choose  a  wife.  Many  maidens,  daughters 
of  princes,  are  there  in  Hellas  and  in  Phthia. 
Of  these  I  will  wed  whomsoever  I  will.  Often, 
indeed,  in  time  past  was  I  moved  to  take  for 
me  a  wife,  to  be  my  helpmeet,  that  I  might 
have  joy  with  her  of  the  possessions  of  Peleus, 
my  father.  For  all  the  wealth  that  was  stored 
in  the  city  of  Troy,  in  the  days  of  peace,  before 
the  Greeks  came  thither,  and  all  the  treasure 
that  is  laid  up  in  the  temple  of  Apollo  the 
Archer  that  is  in  the  city  of  Delphi  —  all  this 
I  count  as  nothing  in  comparison  of  life.  For 
a  man  may  take  cattle  and  sheep  for  spoil,  and 
he  may  buy  tripods  and  horses ;  but  the  life  of 
a  man,  when  it  hath  once  passed  from  out  his 
lips,  he  may  not  win  back  by  spoiling  or  by 
buying.  And  to  me  my  mother,  even  Thetis, 
the  goddess  of  the  silver  foot,  hath  unfolded 
my  doom.  A  double  doom  it  is.  If  I  abide 
in  this  land  and  fight  against  the  city  of  Troy, 
then  shall  I  return  no  more  to  my  native  coun- 
try, but  my  name  shall  live  forever ;  but  if  I 
go  back  to  my  home,  then  my  fame  shall  be 
taken  from  me,  but  I  shall  live  long  and  see 
not  the  grave.  Therefore  I  go,  and  verily  I 


132  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

counsel  you  all  to  go,  for  Troy  ye  never  shall 
take  as  ye  desire,  seeing  that  Zeus,  who  seeth 
all  things  before,  holdeth  over  it  his  hand,  and 
her  sons  are  a  valiant  folk.  And  now  go  your 
way ;  carry  back  this  answer  to  the  princes  of 
the  Greeks :  '  Devise  ye  in  your  hearts  some 
better  counsel  whereby  ye  may  keep  the  men 
of  Troy  from  your  ships ;  for  this  counsel 
availeth  naught,  so  fierce  is  my  anger.'  But 
let  the  old  man  Phoenix  abide  with  me  in  my 
tent  to-night,  that  he  may  sail  in  my  ship  on 
the  morrow.  Verily  he  shall  sail,  if  he  will ; 
but  I  will  not  take  him  by  force." 

Thus  spake  Achilles.  And  the  chiefs  sat 
still  and  held  their  peace,  marvelling  at  his 
speech,  so  vehement  was  he  in  his  denying. 
But  at  the  last  the  old  man  Phoenix  made 
answer.  With  many  tears  he  spake,  for  he 
was  sore  afraid  lest  the  ships  of  the  Greeks 
should  perish :  "  If  indeed  thou  art  minded 
to  depart,  and  carest  not  to  save  the  ships 
from  devouring  fire,  how  can  I  endure  to 
be  left  alone  of  thee?  For  the  old  man 
Peleus  made  me  thy  teacher,  both  of  words 
and  of  deeds,  in  the  day  when  he  sent  thee 


THE  EMBASSY  TO  ACHfLLES.  133 

forth  from  the  land  of  Phthia  to  King  Aga- 
memnon, a  stripling  without  knowledge  of 
war  or  of  counsel.  Therefore  I  will  not  leave 
thee,  no,  not  if  the  gods  would  take  from  me 
my  years,  and  make  me  young  as  I  was  when 
I  left  the  land  of  Hellas.  Hellas  I  left  be- 
cause I  had  angered  the  old  man,  my  father, 
and  he  cursed  me,  calling  instantly  on  the 
Furies  that  never  son  of  mine  should  sit 
upon  his  knees.  Thus  he  prayed,  and  the 
gods  hearkened  to  him,  even  Zeus  that  rules 
the  dead  and  awful  Persephone.  Then  was  I 
minded  to  slay  him  with  the  sword ;  but  some 
god  kept  me  back,  putting  it  in  my  heart 
that  I  should  be  called  the  murderer  of  my 
father  throughout  the  land  of  Hellas.  But 
I  was  purposed  not  to  abide  in  his  dwelling 
any  more.  Then  came  comrades  and  kins- 
men with  many  prayers,  and  would  have  kept 
me.  Nine  days  they  slew  fat  sheep  and 
oxen,  and  broiled  the  swine's  flesh  in  the  fire, 
and  wine  they  drank  without  stint  from  the 
old  man's  jars.  Nine  nights  they  slept  about 
me,  keeping  watch  by  turn,  and  the  fires 
burned  continually,  one  in  the  cloister  of  the 


134  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

court,  and  one  in  the  porch  before  the  chamber 
doors.  But  when  the  tenth  night  came,  and 
darkness  was  over  all,  I  brake  the  chamber 
doors  for  all  their  cunning  fastening,  and, 
coming  forth,  leapt  over  the  courtyard  fence, 
and  neither  watchman  nor  handmaid  marked 
me.  Far  over  the  land  of  Hellas  I  fled,  and 
came  to  Phthia,  to  King  Peleus.  And  Peleus 
received  me  with  a  kindly  heart,  and  cherished 
me  as  a  father  cherisheth  his  son,  even  the 
heir  of  his  possessions.  Yea,  and  he  made 
me  rich,  and  gave  me  people  to  be  under  me, 
and  I  ruled  the  Dolopes  that  dwelt  in  the 
uttermost  border  of  Phthia.  And  thee,  Achil- 
les, did  I  rear  to  the  stature  that  thou  hast. 
With  no  man  but  me  wouldst  thou  go  unto 
the  feast,  or  take  thy  meat  in  the  hall;  but 
I  set  thee  upon  my  knees,  and  cut  the  sa- 
voury morsel  for  thee  from  the  dish,  and  put 
the  wine-cup  to  thy  lips.  Many  a  tunic  hast 
thou  stained  for  me,  sputtering  forth  the  wine 
upon  it.  Much  have  I  suffered,  and  much 
toiled  for  thee ;  for  child  of  mine  own  I  had 
not,  and  thou  wast  to  me  as  a  son,  Achilles, 
to  cherish  me  in  my  need.  And  now,  I  pray 


THE  EMBASSY  TO  ACHILLES.  135 

thee,  rule  thy  anger,  for  it  becometh  thee  not 
to  keep  a  ruthless  heart.  Even  the  gods  are 
turned  from  their  purpose,  and  they  are  more 
honourable  and  mightier  than  thou.  Yea,  men 
turn  them  with  incense  and  drink-offering,  and 
burnt-offering  and  prayer,  if  so  be  that  one  has 
transgressed  against  them.  Moreover,  Prayers 
are  the  daughters  of  Zeus ;  halt  are  they,  and 
wrinkled,  and  with  eyes  that  look  askance,  and 
they  follow  ever  in  the  steps  of  Sin.  Strong  is 
Sin,  and  fleet  of  foot,  and  far  outrunneth  them 
all,  and  goeth  before  over  all  the  earth,  working 
harm  to  men  ;  nevertheless,  Prayers  follow  be- 
hind to  heal  the  harm.  And  whosoever  shall 
reverence  these  daughters  of  Zeus  when  they 
come  near  unto  him,  him  they  bless,  and  accept 
his  petitions  ;  but  when  one  denieth  them  and 
refuseth  them  in  the  hardness  of  his  heart,  then 
they  depart  and  make  supplication  to  Zeus  that 
he  may  perish.  Take  heed,  therefore,  Achilles, 
that  thou  pay  to  the  daughters  of  Zeus  such 
reverence  as  becometh  a  righteous  man.  If, 
indeed,  King  Agamemnon  offered  thee  not 
gifts  in  the  present,  and  promised  thee  more 
hereafter,  I  would  not  bid  thee  cease  from  thy 


136  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

anger,  no,  not  to  save  the  Greeks  in  their  dis- 
tress. But  now  he  gives  thee  much  and  prom- 
ises thee  more,  and  hath  sent  his  ambassadors, 
the  men  that  are  the  noblest  of  the  host,  and 
withal  dearest  to  thee.  Refuse  not,  therefore, 
their  words.  For  the  heroes  also  in  former 
days  when  fierce  anger  came  upon  them  could 
be  turned  with  gifts  and  persuaded  by  prayers. 
Listen,  now,  to  this  tale  that  I  will  tell.  The 
Curetes  in  old  time  fought  against  the  fair  city 
of  Calydon,  and  the  ^tolians  defended  it,  and 
there  was  war  between  them.  For  Artemis 
had  brought  a  plague  upon  them,  being  wroth 
because  King  GEneus  offered  her  not  the  first- 
fruits.  The  other  gods  had  sacrifice,  but  to 
the  daughter  of  Zeus  he  made  no  offering, 
whether  he  forgot  the  matter  or  heeded  her 
not.  And  the  Queen  of  Arrows  was  very 
wroth,  and  sent,  a  great  wild  boar  with  long 
white  tusks  into  the  land,  that  laid  waste 
gardens  and  orchards.  But  Meleager,  son  of 
CEneus,  slew  the  beast,  having  first  gathered 
many  hunters  and  dogs,  for  only  of  many  could 
he  be  slain,  so  mighty  was  he,, and  so  many  did 
he  bring  to  the  funeral  fires.  And  when  he 


THE  EMBASSY  TO   ACHILLES.  137 

was  slain  much  trouble  arose  about  his  head 
and  shaggy  hide,  for  the  Curetes  and  ^Etolians 
contended  together  who  should  have  them. 
Now,  so  long  as  Meleager  fought  in  the  host 
of  the  /Etolians,  so  long  it  fared  ill  with  the 
Curetes,  till  they  dared  not  to  come  without 
the  walls  of  their  city,  for  all  that  they  were 
many  in  number.  But  after  a  while  he  went 
no  more  with  the  host  of  the  ^Etolians  to  battle, 
but  tarried  at  home  with  his  wedded  wife,  Cleo- 
patra, daughter  of  Marpessa  and  of  Idas,  that 
was  the  strongest  of  mortal  men.  Strongest 
he  was,  and  dared  to  stand  face  to  face  with  his 
bow  against  the  archer  Apollo.  For  Idas  had 
carried  away  Marpessa  from  the  halls  of  her 
father,  and  when  Apollo  would  have  taken  her 
from  him,  he  stood  against  him;  so  the  two 
fought  together ;  but  Zeus  commanded  that  the 
damsel  should  choose  between  them.  So  she 
chose  the  hero  rather  than  the  god,  for,  she 
said,  '  He  will  be  faithful  to  me.'  And  now 
Meleager  tarried  at  home,  being  wroth  with  his 
mother,  Althaea ;  and  the  cause  of  his  anger 
was  this :  He  was  minded  to  give  the  spoils  of 
the  wild  boar  to  the  fair  huntress,  Atalanta,  that 


138  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

came  from  the  land  of  Arcadia ;  and  when  the 
brethren  of  his  mother  would  have  taken  them 
from  her,  he  slew  them.  Then  his  mother, 
being  grieved  for  her  brethren,  knelt  on  her 
knees  upon  the  ground,  and  beat  it  with  her 
hands  and  wept,  praying  instantly  to  Pluto  and 
Persephone,  that  they  should  bring  her  son  to 
death.  And  the  Fury  that  walketh  in  darkness 
and  hath  no  pity  upon  men,  heard  her  from 
the  pit.  And  now  there  was  the  din  of  foe- 
men  about  the  gates;  and  the  elders  of  the 
^tolians  besought  him,  sending  the  priests  of 
the  gods,  the  holiest  that  there  were,  to  come 
forth  and  defend  them,  and  promised  him  a 
goodly  gift.  For  they  bade  him  choose  for 
himself  from  the  plain  of  ^tolia,  even  where 
it  was  richest,  a  fair  domain,  of  ploughland 
half  and  of  vineyard  half.  Then  the  old  man 
CEneus  besought  him,  standing  on  the  threshold 
of  his  chamber  and  shaking  the  .doors.  Also 
his  sisters  and  his  mother  besought  him,  but 
he  refused  the  more  vehemently.  And  his 
comrades  came  that  were  nearest  and  dearest 
of  all  men  to  him,  but  they  prevailed  not  with 
him.  But  at  the  last,  when  the  enemy  were 


THE  EMBASSY  TO  ACHILLES.  139 

now  battering  the  door  of  his  chamber,  and 
were  climbing  on  the  towers,  and  burning  the 
fair  city  with  fire,  then  the  fair  Cleopatra  arose 
and  besought  him  with  many  tears  that  he 
would  save  the  people ;  for  she  told  him  all 
the  woes  that  come  upon  them  whose  city  is 
taken  by  their  enemies,  how  that  the  warriors 
are  slain,  and  the  streets  wasted  with  fire,  and 
the  children  and  women  led  into  captivity. 
Then  was  his  spirit  stirred  within  him,  and 
he  rose  from  his  place,  and  put  his  shining 
arms  upon  him,  and  saved  the  ^Etolians  from 
destruction.  He  saved  them;  but  the  gifts, 
many  and  fair,  which  they  had  promised,  they 
gave  him  not.  But  let  not  thy  thoughts,  my 
son,  be  as  the  thoughts  of  Meleager.  It  would 
be  an  ill  task  for  thee  to  save  the  ships  when 
they  are  already  burning.  Come,  therefore,  for 
the  gifts  which  the  King  will  give  thee ;  come, 
and  the  Greeks  will  honour  thee  as  men  honour 
a  god.  But  this  honour  wilt  thou  miss  if  thou 
receive  not  the  gifts,  yea,  though  thou  save  us 
from  the  men  of  Troy." 

To  him  Achilles,  fleet  of  foot,  made  answer: 
"  Phcenix,  my  father,  such  honour  as  this  I  need 


140  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

not ;  already  have  I  honour  enough  by  the_giv- 
ing  of  Zeus.  And  this  also  I  say  to  thee. 
Trouble  me  no  more  with  thy  tears  and  thy 
lamenting  while  thou  seekest  to  serve  King 
Agamemnon.  Favour  him  not,  lest  thou  be 
hated  of  me,  who  love  thee  now.  Rather 
shouldst  thou  vex  the  man  who  vexeth  me. 
Come,  therefore,  and  take  the  half  of  my  king- 
dom. Let  these  take  my  message  to  the  King, 
but  abide  thou  here  with  me ;  and  when  the 
day  shall  come  we  will  take  counsel  together 
whether  we  will  tarry  here  or  depart." 

Then  Achilles  nodded  to  Patroclus,  that  he 
should  spread  a  couch  for  the  old  man  Phoenix, 
that  so  the  other  twain  might  depart  without 
delay.  Then  said  Ajax,  the  son  of  Telamon  : 
"  Let  us  depart,  Ulysses.  I  trow  that  we  shall 
accomplish  naught  this  day.  Let  us,  therefore, 
take  back  the  tidings,  evil  though  they  be,  to 
them  that  wait  for  us.  As  for  Achilles,  he  hath 
wrought  his  soul  to  fury,  and  he  seeketh  not 
of  the  love  of  his  comrades,  or  of  the  honour 
wherewith  they  honoured  him  above  all  others 
in  the  host.  And  yet  a  man  will  take  fit  rec- 
ompense at  the  hand  of  him  who  hath  slain  his 


THE  EMBASSY  TO  ACHILLES.  141 

brother  or  his  son.  He  taketh  it,  and  his  anger 
is  appeased  —  and  the  shedder  of  blood  abides 
in  peace  in  his  own  land.  But  thou  keepest 
thy  anger  forever,  and  all  for  a  damsel's  sake. 
Look !  we  offer  thee  seven  d'amsels,  very  fair 
to  see,  and  many  gifts  besides.  Think  thee, 
and  have  also  some  thought  for  thy  guest,  for 
we  are  under  thy  roof,  and  would  fain  be  thy 
friends,  dearer  to  thee  than  all  besides." 

Then  said  Achilles :  "  Thy  speech  seemeth 
to  please  me  well,  great  son  of  Telamon.  Nev- 
ertheless, my  heart  swells  with  wrath,  when  I 
remember  how  the  son  of  Atreus  shamed  me 
before  all  the  people,  as  though  I  'was  some 
stranger  nothing  worth.  But  go  and  take  my 
message.  I  will  not  arise  to  the  battle  till 
Hector  shall  come  as  he  slays  the  Greeks  even 
to  the  tents  of  the  Myrmidons,  and  shall  en- 
circle their  ships  with  fire.  But  when  he  shall 
come  to  my  tent  and  to  my  ships,  then  I  ween 
shall  he  be  stayed,  for  all  that  he  is  eager  for 
battle." 

Then  Ajax  and  Ulysses  departed,  and  told 
the  message  of  Achilles  to  King  Agamemnon, 


142  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE    ADVENTURE    OF    ULYSSES    AND    DIOMED. 

THE  other  chiefs  of  the  Greeks  slept  that 
night;  but  King  Agamemnon  slept  not;  sore 
troubled  was  he  in  heart.  For  when  he  looked 
towards  Troy,  and  saw  the  many  fires,  and 
heard  the  sound  of  flute  and  pipe  and  the 
murmur  of  men,  he  was  astonished;  and  when 
he  looked  towards  the  ships  he  groaned,  and 
tare  his  hair,  thinking  what  evil  might  come 
to  the  people.  Then  it  seemed  good  to  him 
to  seek  counsel  from  Nestor,  if  haply  they 
two  might  devise  some  useful  device.  So  he 
arose,  and  drew  his  coat  about  his  breast,  and 
bound  the  sandals  on  his  feet,  and  wrapped  a 
tawny  lion's  hide  about  him,  and  took  a  spear 
in  his  hand. 

To  Menelaiis  also  came  no  sleep  that  night. 
So  he  arose,  and  wrapped  a  leopard's  skin 
about  him,  and  put  on  his  head  a  cap  of 


ADVENTURE  OF  ULYSSES  AND  DIOMED.     143 

bronze,  and  took  a  spear  in  his  hand,  and  went 
to  seek  his  brother. 

He  found  him  arming  by  his  ship,  and  said : 
"  Why  armest  thou  ?  Wilt  thou  send  some 
one  to  spy  out  the  doings  of  the  Trojans  ?  I 
fear  me  much  that  no  man  will  undertake  the 
task  to  go  alone,  for  it  is  a  daring  deed." 

To  him  replied  King  Agamemnon :  "  We 
Jiave  need  of  good  counsel,  my  brother,  that 
we  may  save  the  people.  Truly  the  mind  of 
Zeus  is  changed;  for  never  hath  a  man 
wrought  such  destruction  in  one  day  as  did 
Hector  on  the  Greeks,  and  yet  he  is  not  the 
son  either  of  goddess  or  of  god.  But  now  run 
thou  to  Ajax  and  Idomeneus,  and  call  them  to 
the  council,  and  I  will  go  to  Nestor." 

So  the  chiefs  were  gathered  to  the  council. 
First  of  all  they  went  to  the  company  of  them 
that  watched  the  camp.  These  they  found 
not  sleeping  but  awake,  like  to  dogs  that  hear 
the  sound  of  some  wild  beast  in  the  wood,  so 
did  the  watch  look  towards  the  plain,  think- 
ing to  hear  the  sound  of  the  feet  of  the 
Trojans. 

Gladly  did  old  Nestor  see  them,  and  spake, 


144  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

saying,  "  Such  be  your  watch,  my  children, 
lest  we  become  a  prey  to  our  enemies." 

Then  he  hasted  to  cross  the  trench,  and 
with  him  went  the  other  princes.  In  an  open 
space  they  sat  down  that  was  clear  of  dead, 
even  where  Hector  had  turned  back  from 
slaying  the  Greeks. 

And  Nestor  rose  and  said :  "  Is  there  now  a 
man  who  will  go  among  the  sons  of  Troy,  and 
see  what  they  are  minded  to  do  ?  Great  hon- 
our will  he  win,  and  gifts  withal." 

Then  Diomed  said,  "  I  am  ready  to  go,  but 
I  would  fain  have  some  one  with  me.  To 
have  a  companion  gives  comfort  and  courage, 
and,  indeed,  two  wits  are  better  than  one  to 
take  counsel  and  to  foresee." 

And  many  were  willing  to  go  with  Diomed. 
Ajax  the  Greater  and  Ajax  the  Less,  and  Me- 
riones,  and  Thrasymedes,  old  Nestor's  son 
(and  no  one,  indeed,  wished  it  more  than  he), 
and  Menelaiis  and  Ulysses. 

But  Agamemnon  said,  "  Choose  the  best 
man,  O  Diomed,  and  regard  not  the  birth  or 
rank  of  any."  This  he  said,  fearing  for  his 
brother  Menelaiis, 


ADVENTURE  OF  ULYSSES  AND  DIOMED.     145 

And  Diomed  answered:  "  Nay,  but  if  I  may 
choose,  whom  should  I  choose  rather  than  the 
wise  Ulysses?  Brave  is  he,  and  prudent,  and 
Athene  loves  him  well." 

But  Ulysses  said:  "Praise  me  not  overmuch, 
nor  blame  me.  Only  let  us  go,  for  the  night  is 
far  spent." 

So  these  two  armed  themselves.  Diomed 
took  a  two-edged  sword  and  a  shield,  and  a 
helmet  without  a  crest,  and  Ulysses  a  bow  and 
a  quiver  and  a  sword,  and  a  helmet  of  hide 
with  the  white  teeth  of  a  wild  boar  about  it. 
Then  both  prayed  to  Athene  that  she  would 
help  them,  and  after  that  they  went  through 
the  darkness  like  to  two  lions,  trampling  over 
dead  bodies  and  arms  and  blood. 

But  Hector,  meanwhile,  was  thinking  on  the 
same  things,  for  he  called  the  chiefs  to  a  coun- 
cil and  said :  "  Who  now  will  go  and  spy 
among  the  Greeks,  and  see  what  they  purpose 
to  do  on  the  morrow,  and  whether  they  are 
keeping  watch  through  the  night.  A  goodly 
reward  shall  he  have,  even  a  chariot  and 
horses,  the  best  that  there  are  in  the  camp  of 
the  Greeks." 

K 


146  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

Then  stood  up  a  certain  Dolon,  the  son  of 
the  herald  Eumedes.  Ill-favoured  was  he,  but 
a  swift  runner,  the  only  son  of  his  father,  but 
he  had  five  sisters.  He  said  :  — 

"I  will  go,  Hector;  but  come,  lift  up  thy 
sceptre,  and  swear  to  me  that  thou  wilt  give 
!  me  the  chariot  and  the  horses  of  Achilles." 

So  Hector  sware  to  him,  but  it  was  an  idle 
oath.  And  Dolon  took  his  bow,  and  a  helmet 
of  grisly  wolf-skin,  and  a  sharp  spear,  and  went 
his  way  in  haste.  But  Ulysses  saw  him,  and 
said :  — 

"  Here  cometh  a  man,  Diomed,  but  whether 
he  be  a  spy  or  a  spoiler  of  the  dead  I  know 
not.  Let  him  pass  by  a  space  that  we  may 
take  him.  If  he  outrun  us,  press  him  with  thy 
spear  towards  the  ships;  only  let  him  not  turn 
back  to  the  city." 

So  they  lay  down  among  the  dead,  a  little 
out  of  the  way,  and  Dolon  passed  by  them  un- 
knowing ;  but  when  he  had  gone  a  little  space 
they  ran  upon  him.  For  a  while  he  stood 
hearkening  to  their  steps,  for  he  thought  that 
Hector  had  sent  comrades  to  call  him  back. 
But  when  they  were  a  spear's  throw  from  him, 


ADVENTURE  OF  ULYSSES  AND  DIOMED.     1 47 

or  less,  he  knew  them  for  foes  and  fled.  And 
just  as  two  dogs  follow  a  fawn  or  a  hare,  so 
they  two  ran,  pursuing  Dolon.  And  when  he 
had_well-nigh  reached  the  trench,  for  they  kept 
him  that  he  should  not  turn  back  to  the  city, 
Diomed  rushed  forward  and  cried :  — 

"  Stay,  or  I  will  slay  thee  with  my  spear." 

And  he  threw  the  spear,  and  smote  not  the 
man  indeed,  for  that  he  wished  not,  but  made 
it  pass  over  his  shoulder,  so  that  it  stood  in  the 
ground  before  him.  Then  Dolon  stood  trem- 
bling and  pale,  and  with  teeth  chattering  with 
fear.  And  the  two  heroes,  breathing  hard, 
came  up  and  laid  hands  on  him.  And  he  said, 
weeping :  — 

"  Hold  me  to  ransom ;  much  gold  and  bronze 
and  iron  will  my  father  give,  if  he  hear  that  I 
am  a  prisoner  at  the  ships." 

Then  said  the  wise  Ulysses :  "  Be  of  good 
cheer,  and  think  not  of  death.  But  tell  us 
truly,  why  wast  thou  coming  hither  through 
Jthe  darkness  ?  To  spoil  the  dead,  or,  at  Hec- 
tor's bidding,  to  spy  out  our  affairs  at  the 
ships,  or  on  some  errand  of  thine  own  ?  " 

And   Dolon   answered,  "  Hector   persuaded 


148  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

me,  promising  to  give  me  the  horses  and 
chariot  of  Achilles,  and  he  bade  me  go  and 
spy  out  what  ye  purposed  to  do  on  the  mor- 
row, and  whether  ye  were  keeping  watch  in 
the  night." 

And  Ulysses  smiled  and  said:  "Surely  it 
was  a  great  reward  that  thy  soul  desired.  The 
horses  of  Achilles  are  grievous  for  any  man  _to 
drive,  save  for  him  that  is  born  of  a  goddess. 
But  tell  me,  where  is  Hector,  and  where  are 
the  watches  of  the  sons  of  Troy  ? " 

Then  Dolon  answered :  "  Hector  holds  coun- 
cil with  the  chiefs  by  the  tomb  of  Ilus.  But  as 
for  the  army,  there  are  no  watches  set,  save 
only  where  be  the  Trojans  themselves.  But  as 
for  the  allies,  they  sleep  secure,  and  trust  to 
the  Trojans  to  watch  for  them,  seeing  that 
they  have  not  wives  or  children  near." 

Then  Ulysses  asked,  "  Do  they  sleep,  then, 
among  the  Trojans,  or  apart  ?  " 

"  Next  to  the  sea,"  said  Dolon,  "are  the  men 
of  Caria  and  Paeonia,  and  close  to  these  the 
men  of  Lycia  and  Mysia  and  Phrygia.  But  if 
ye  wish  to  enter  the  camp,  lo !  apart  from  all 
are  some  newcomers,  Thracians,  with  Rhesus, 


ADVENTURE  OF  ULYSSES  AND  DIOMED.     149 

their  King.     Never  have  I  seen  horses  so  fair  I 
and  tall  as  his.     Whiter  are  they  than  snow, 
and  swifter  than  the  winds.     But  do  ye  now 
send  me  to  the  ships,  or,  if  ye  will,  bind  me 
and  leave  me  here." 

But  Diomed  said :  "  Think  not  to  escape, 
Dolon,  though  thy  news  is  good ;  for  then 
wouldst  thou  come  again  to  spy  out  our 
camp  or  to  fight.  But  if  I  slay  thee,  thou 
wilt  trouble  the  Greeks,  no  more." 

So  he  slew  him,  and  took  from  him  his  arms, 
hanging  them  on  a  tamarisk  tree,  and  made  a 
mark  with  reeds  and  tamarisk  boughs,  that  they 
might  know  the  place  as  they  came  back.  So 
they  went  on  across  the  plain  and  came  to 
where  the  men  of  Thrace  lay  sleeping,  and  by 
each  man  were  his  arms  in  fair  array,  and  his 
horses ;  but  in  the  midst  lay  King  Rhesus, 
with  his  horses  tethered  to  the  chariot-rail. 
Then  Diomed  began  to  slay.  As  a  lion 
rushes  on  a  flock,  so  rushed  he  on  the  men 
of  Thrace.  Twelve  he  slew,  and  as  he  slew 
them  Ulysses  dragged  them  out  of  the  way, 
that  there  might  be  a  clear  road  for  the  horses, 
lest  they  should  start  back,  fearing  the  dead 


ISO  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

bodies,  for  they  were  not  used  to  war.  And 
the  thirteenth  was  King  Rhesus  himself,  who 
panted  in  his  sleep,  for  an  evil  dream  was  on 
him.  And  meanwhile  Ulysses  drove  the  horses 
out  of  the  encampment,  smiting  them  with  his 
bow,  for  he  had  not  thought  to  take  the  whip 
out  of  the  chariot.  Then  he  whistled,  making 
a  sign  to  Diomed  that  he  should  come,  for 
Diomed  lingered,  doubting  whether  he  might 
not  slay  yet  more.  But  Athene  whispered  in 
his  ear :  — 

"  Think  of  thy  return,  lest  haply  some  god 
rouse  the  Trojans  against  thee." 

And,  indeed,  Apollo  was  even  then  rousing 
them.  For  Hippocoon,  cousin  to  King  Rhe- 
sus, awoke,  and  seeing  the  place  of  the  horses 
empty  and  his  comrades  slain,  groaned  aloud, 
and  called  to  the  King,  and  the  Trojans  were 
roused,  and  flocked  together  with  tumult  and 
shouting.  But  Diomed  and  Ulysses  mean- 
while had  mounted  the  horses,  and  were  riding 
to  the  ships.  Glad  were  their  comrades  to  see 
them  safe  returned,  and  praised  them  much  for 
all  that  they  had  done. 


THE  VALIANT  DEEDS  OF  AGAMEMNON.     151 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

THE    VALIANT    DEEDS    OF   AGAMEMNON. 

A(  • 

t 

WHEN  the  next  day  dawned,  King  Aga- 
memnon called  the  Greeks  to  battle.  And 
first  he  donned  his  arms ;  about  his  breast  he 
put  the  corselet  which  Cinyras  of  Cyprus  gave 
him ;  twelve  bands  it  had  of  dark  iron,  and 
twelve  of  gold,  and  of  tin  twenty,  and  on  either 
side  three  dragons  upright,  stretching  up  to 
the  neck,  with  many  colours,  as  the  rainbow 
which  Zeus  setteth  in  the  clouds  to  be  a  sign 
to  men.  From  his  shoulder  he  hung  his 
flashing  sword  with  bosses  of  gold  and  silver 
scabbard ;  and  on  his  arm  he  put  his  shield, 
ankle-long,  with  a  Gorgon  head,  dreadful  to 
look  upon,  in  the  midst,  and  Fear  and  Flight 
on  either  side.  Rimmed  with  silver  was  the 
shield,  and  wrought  upon  the  rims  in  iron  a 
dragon  with  three  heads  growing  from  a  single 
neck.  Last  he  took  two  spears,  one  in  either 


152  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

hand ;  and  Athene  and  Hera  thundered  as  he 
went  to  do  him  honour. 

On  the  other  side  Hector  set  in  order  the 
men  of  Troy.  As  a  baleful  star  now  shineth 
from  the  clouds,  and  now  is  hidden,  so  Hector 
now  shone  among  the  foremost  ranks,  and  now 
ordered  the  rearward. 

Then  the  men  of  Troy  and  the  Greeks 
leapt  upon  each  other.  As  reapers  reap  in 
a  rich  man's  field,  making  the  barley  and  the 
wheat  fall  in  long  swathes,  so  did  the  Trojans 
and  the  Greeks  slay  one  another.  So  long  as 
the  day  was  waxing  the  battle  was  equal,  and 
the  people  fell  alike  on  either  side;  but  at 
noon,  at  the  hour  when  he  that  cutteth  wood 
among  the  hills  groweth  weary  of  his  work 
and  craveth  for  food,  then  the  Greeks  with  a 
great  onset  brake  the  Trojan  line,  and  Aga- 
memnon leapt  first  into  the  breach.  First 
he  slew  two  men  in  one  chariot,  Bienor  and 
his  charioteer;  and  next  to  these  two  sons 
of  Priam,  Isus  and  Antiphus.  These  two 
Achilles  had  taken  aforetime  as  they  fed  their 
flocks  on  the  slopes  of  Ida,  and  had  let  them 
go  for  a  ransom.  Now  Agamemnon  came 


THE  VALIANT  DEEDS  OF  AGAMEMNON.     153 

upon  them,  and  he  knew  them,  having  seen 
them  before  at  the  ships.  One  he  smote  upon 
the  breast  with  his  spear,  the  other  on  his  ear 
with  his  sword.  Even  as  a  lion  comes  upon 
the  young  of  a  doe,  and  crusheth  them  in 
his  teeth,  and  the  mother  cannot  help  them, 
though  she  be  near,  but  flieth  trembling 
through  the  wood,  so  did  these  two  perish, 
and  none  of  the  Trojans  dared  to  help  them, 
but  rather  fled  themselves. 

Next  to  these  Agamemnon  found  the  sons 
of  Antimachus.  These  two  he  took  alive  in 
their  chariot,  for  they  had  dropped  the  reins, 
and  stood  helpless  before  him,  crying  out  that 
he  should  spare  them,  and  take  ransom,  for 
that  Antimachus  their  father  had  much  gold 
and  bronze  and  iron  in  his  house,  and  would 
gladly  buy  them  back  alive.  Now  Antima- 
chus had  taken  a  bribe  from  Prince  Paris, 
and  had  given  counsel  to  the  Trojans  that 
they  should  not  give  back  the  fair  Helen.  So 
when  King  Agamemnon  heard  them,  he  said : 
"  Nay,  but  if  ye  be  sons  of  Antimachus,  who 
counselled  the  men  of  Troy  that  they  should 
slay  Menelaus  when  he  came  an  ambassador 


154  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

to  their  city,  ye  shall  die  for  your  father's  sin." 
So  he  slew  them  both,  and,  leaving  them,  still 
rushed  on,  driving  back  the  Trojans,  even  to 
the  walls  of  their  city,  and  the  Greeks  came 
after  him,  and  footman  slew  footman,  and 
horseman,  horseman.  As  a  fire  falleth  on  a 
wood,  and  sweepeth  it  away,  so  Agamemnon 
fell  upon  the  men  of  Troy,  and  swept  them 
before  him.  Past  the  Tomb  of  Ilus,  and  past 
the  wild  fig  tree  in  the  plain,  they  fled,  and 
the  King  followed  hard  upon  them,  shouting 
aloud.  But  when  they  came  to  the  Scaean 
gate  they  turned  and  stood,  and  the  battle 
was  renewed. 

Then  spake  Zeus  to  Iris,  saying:  "Get  thee 
away,  swift  Iris,  and  bear  this  word  to  Hector. 
So  long  as  he  shall  see  King  Agamemnon 
laying  waste  the  ranks  of  men,  so  long  let  him 
hold  back  from  the  battle.  But  when  the 
King  shall  be  wounded  with  spear  or  arrow, 
and  shall  leap  from  his  chariot,  then  let  him 
advance,  and  I  will  give  him  strength  to  slay 
till  he  shall  come  to  the  ships,  and  the  sun 
shall  set." 

So  he  came,  and  told  these  words  to  Hector. 


THE  VALIANT  DEEDS  OF  AGAMEMNON.     155 

And  when  Hector  heard  them,  he  leapt  from 
his  chariot,  and  went  up  and  down  the  ranks 
of  Troy,  strengthening  them  for  the  fight. 
And  the  two  hosts  stood,  and  faced  each  other. 

Then  did  King  Agamemnon  slay  the  two 
sons  of  Antenor.  First  he  slew  Iphidamas, 
who  had  been  reared  in  his  grandsire's  halls, 
the  father  of  fair  Theano,  Antenor's  wife. 
There  he  had  married  a  wife,  giving  for  her 
many  gifts ;  a  hundred  oxen  he  paid  in  hand, 
and  a  thousand  sheep  and  goats  he  promised ; 
but  little  joy  he  had,  for  while  yet  a  bride- 
groom he  came  to  fight  for  Troy,  and  now  the 
King  slew  him.  First  Agamemnon  threw  his 
spear,  but  missed  his  cast ;  then  Antenor's  son 
smote  the  King  upon  the  girdle,  beneath  the 
corselet,  leaning  his  weight  upon  the  blow  ;  but 
he  pierced  not  the  girdle,  for  the  spear  point 
came  full  upon  the  silver,  and  turned  aside  as 
it  had  been  lead.  Then  the  King  caught  the 
spear,  and  wrenched  it  from  his  hand,  and 
smote  him  a  deadly  blow  upon  the  neck. 

But  Coon,  Antenor's  first-born  son,  was 
grieved  for  his  brother,  and  standing  sideways, 
so  that  the  King  saw  him  not,  he  stabbed  him 


156  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILTAD. 

in  the  middle  of  the  arm,  beneath  the  elbow, 
and  the  spear  pierced  it  through.  The  King 
started,  yet  ceased  not  from  battle,  but  as^ 
Coon  dragged  his  brother  by  the  foot  out  of 
the  press,  calling  upon  the  chiefs  to  help,  then 
Agamemnon  smote  him  with  the  spear,  be- 
neath the  shield,  and  drove  him  to  the  ground, 
and  after  smote  off  his  head  with  the  sword. 
Thus  did  Agamemnon  slay  the  two  sons  of 
Antenor. 

For  a  while,  while  the  wound  was  warm,  the 
King  fought  as  before ;  but  when  it  grew  cold 
and  stiff,  great  pain  came  upon  him,  and  he 
leapt  into  his  chariot  and  bade  the  charioteer 
drive  him  to  the  ships,  for  that  he  could  fight 
no  more. 


THE  WOUNDING   OF  THE  CHIEFS.          I  $7 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

THE    WOUNDING    OF    THE    CHIEFS. 

WHEN    Hector   saw   that  Agamemnon  had 
departed  from  the  battle,  he  called  aloud  toj 
the   Trojans  and  the  allies :    "  Come   on,  and 
play  the  man.     The  leader  of  the   Greeks  is 
gone ;  and  Zeus  giveth  the  honour  unto  me." 

So  he  stirred  the  spirit  within  them.  As  a 
hunter  setteth  his  dogs  on  a  wild  boar  or  a 
lion  in  the  field,  so  did  Hector  set  the  men 
of  Troy  upon  the  Greeks,  and  he  himself  went 
among  the  foremost,  and  plunged  into  the  battle 
as  a  storm  cometh  down  upon  the  sea.  Many 
valiant  men  did  he  slay,  till  Ulysses  called  to 
Diomed:  "Son  of  Tydeus,  have  we  forgotten 
our  courage  ?  Come  hither,  and  stand  by  me ; 
it  were  shame  if  Hector  should  take  our  ships." 

Strong  Diomed  made  answer,  "  I  will,  in- 
deed, abide  with  thee ;  but  it  will  fare  ill  with 
us  if  Zeus  give  the  mastery  to  the  men  of  Troy 
rather  than  to  us." 


158  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

So  he  spake,  and  slew  a  man,  and  Ulysses 
another;  and  afterwards  they  slew  two  apiece, 
making  head  against  the  men  of  Troy,  and  the 
Greeks,  as  they  fled  from  Hector,  gladly  took 
breath  and  turned  again. 

Hector  was  quick  to  see  what  they  did,  and 
he  came  upon  them  with  a  cry,  and  the  compa- 
nies of  Troy  followed  after  him.  But  when 
Diomed  saw  him,  he  was  afraid,  and  said  to 
Ulysses,  "  See,  mighty  Hector  cometh  against 
us ;  let  us  be  firm  and  stand  against  him." 

And  even  as  he  spake  he  cast  his  spear,  nor 
missed  his  aim.  On  the  helmet  he  smote  Hec- 
tor; but  the  spear  glanced  from  the  bronze, 
nor  wounded  the  flesh ;  for  the  helmet  which 
Apollo  had  given  him  saved  him.  But  he  stag- 
gered under  the  blow,  falling  on  his  knee,  and 
darkness  came  over  his  eyes.  And  when  Dio- 
med came  after  his  spear,  far  through  the  fore- 
most ranks,  to  where  it  had  lighted  on  the 
ground,  then  Hector,  breathing  again,  leapt 
upon  his  car,  and  drove  into  the. midst  of  the 
host,  avoiding  death. 

Then  Diomed,  as  he  rushed  on,  with  his 
spear  in  his  hand,  cried  aloud :  "  Dog,  thou 


, 


THE   WOUNDING   OF  THE  CHIEFS.  159 

hast  escaped  from  death  once  more ;  but  mis- 
hief  came  near  thee.  Apollo  hath  saved  thee, 
16  whom  doubtless  thou  prayest  ere  thou  came 
into  the  press  of  war.  But  some  time  I  will 
slay  thee,  if  only  some  god  will  help." 

And  he  turned  to  slay  the  men  of  Troy. 
But  while  he  spoiled  the  son  of  Paeon,  whom 
he  had  slain  ere  Hector  came  against  him, 
Paris,  who  was  in  hiding  behind  the  pillar  on 
the  Tomb  of  Ilus,  drew  his  bow,  and  smote  him 
with  an  arrow  through  the  ankle  of  the  right 
foot.  Loud  he  boasted  of  his  aim.  "  Only," 
he  said,  "  I  would  that  I  had  pierced  thee  in 
the  loin ;  then  hadst  thou  troubled  the  sons  of 
Troy  no  more." 

But  Diomed  answered:  "Small  good  were 
thy  bow  to  thee,  cowardly  archer,  if  thou 
shouldst  dare  to  meet  me  face  to  face.  And 
as  for  this  graze  on  my  foot,  I  care  no  more 
than  if  a  woman  or  child  had  smitten  me. 
Not  such  the  wounds  I  deal ;  as  for  those  that 
meet  my  spear  in  the  battle,  I  think  that  they 
are  dearer  to  the  fowls  of  the  air  than  to 
women  in  the  chamber." 

Then   Ulysses  stood   before   him,  while  he 


>SWflU 

1 60  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

drew  the  arrow  out  of  his  foot.  Grievous 
was  the  smart  of  the  wound,  for  all  his  brave 
words.  Wherefore  he  leapt  into  his  chariot, 
and  bade  drive  in  haste  to  the  ships ;  and 
Ulysses  stood  alone,  and  none  of  the  Greeks 
stood  by  him,  for  all  were  sore  afraid.  Then 
spake  he  to  himself :  — 

"  What  shall  I  do  ?  It  were  much  evil  to 
fly  before  these  many  foes,  and  yet  worse  evil 
were  I  to  be  caught  and  slain,  for  truly  Zeus 
hath  sent  great  fear  upon  the  Greeks.  But 
why  talk  I  thus  ?  Tis  only  the  coward  that 
draweth  back  from  the  war;  the  brave  man 
standeth  whether  he  smite  or  be  smitten." 

And  as  he  spake,  the  Trojans  came  about 
him  as  men  with  dogs  come  about  a  wild  boar 
who  stands  at  bay,  gnashing  his  white  teeth. 
Fiercely  Ulysses  stood  at  bay,  and  slew  five 
chiefs  of  fame.  But  one  of  them,  Socus  by 
name,  before  he  fell,  wounded  him  on  the 
side,  scraping  the  flesh  from  the  ribs.  High 
spurted  the  blood  from  the  wound,  and  the 
Trojans  shouted  to  see  it.  Then  Ulysses  cried 
aloud  for  help ;  three  times  he  cried,  and  Mene- 
lalis  heard  him,  and  called  to  Ajax,  saying :  — 


'  V 

THE   WOUNDING   OF  THE  CHIEFS.  l6l 

"  O  Ajax,  I  hear  the  voice  of  Ulysses ;  and 
he  shouteth  as  if  the  men  of  Troy  had  com- 
passed him  about,  and  he  was  left  alone. 
Come,  therefore,  let  us  help  him,  lest  he  come 
to  harm,  and  the  Greeks  have  a  heavy  loss !" 

TTHus  he  spake,  and  led  the  way,  and  Ajax 
followed  him ;  and  when  they  came  to  Ulysses, 
the  Trojans  had  beset  him,  even  as  the  jack- 
als beset  a  long-horned  hart  among  the  hills, 
which  a  hunter  hath  wounded  with  an  arrow 
from  the  bow.  From  the  hunter  he  flieth, 
while  the  wound  is  warm,  but  when  he  grow- 
eth  weak  the  jackals  tear  him.  Then  cometh 
a  lion,  and  the  jackals  flee.  So  fled  the  Tro- 
jans when  Ajax  came  and  stood  beside  Ulys- 
ses. Then  Menelaus  took  Ulysses  by  the 
hand,  and  led  him  from  out  the  throng. 

Then  Ajax  leapt  upon  the  Trojans  and  slew 
many,  scouring  the  plain,  and  killing  horse 
and  man.  But  Hector  knew  not  of  it,  for 
he  fought  upon  the  left  of  the  battle  by  the 
banks  of  Scamander,  where  old  Nestor  and 
Idomeneus  of  Crete  kept  up  the  battle  for 
the  Greeks.  Nor  had  these  given  way  but 
that  Paris,  husband  of  Helen,  stayed  Machaon 


M 

>* 

162  THE  STORY  OF  THE  IUAD. 

from  the  fight,  wounding  him  on  the  right 
shoulder  with  a  three-pointed  arrow.  There- 
fore spake  Idomeneus  to  Nestor,  "  Quick, 
Nestor,  mount  thy  chariot  and  take  Machaon 
with  thee,  and  drive  quickly  to  the  ships,  for 
the  life  of  a  physician  is  as  the  lives  of  many 
men ! " 

So  Nestor  mounted  on  his  chariot,  and 
Machaon  stood  beside  him.  He  touched  the 
horses,  and  they  flew  right  willingly  to  the 
ships. 

Meanwhile  Cebriones,  Hector's  charioteer, 
said  to  Hector :  "  We  two  fight  with  the 
Greeks  upon  the  outskirts  of  the  battle ;  but 
yonder  Ajax  confounds  the  men  of  Troy. 
Let  us,  therefore,  turn  the  chariot  thither,  for 
there  is  the  sorest  need." 

So  he  spake,  and  lashed  the  horses.  And 
when  they  felt  the  whip,  they  bare  the  chariot 
swiftly  on,  over  shields  and  bodies  of  men, 
and  the  axle  beneath  and  the  chariot  sides 
were  bespattered  with  blood.  Up  and  down 
the  ranks  went  Hector,  but  he  avoided  the 
mighty  Ajax.  But  Zeus  the  Father  sent  fear 
upon  Ajax,  and  he  cast  his  seven-fold  shield 


/ 

THE   WOUNDING   OF  THE  CHIEFS.          163 

behind  his  shoulders,  and  turned  his  back, 
yet  again  and  again  he  faced  round  upon  the 
enemy.  As  when  an  ass  turns  into  a  field  and 
"eats"  the  standing  corn,  and  the  children  beat 
him  with  sticks,  but  their  strength  is  feebleness, 
and  the  sticks  are  broken  on  his  back,  for  he 
is  slow  to  go,  nor  do  they  drive  him  out, 
though  with  much  pains,  till  he  has  eaten  his 
fill,  thus  did  the  men  of  Troy  hang  upon  Ajax, 
and  thrust  at  him  with  their  lances.  And  now 
he  would  turn  about  and  check  them,  and  now 
he  would  draw  back ;  but  ever  he  kept  them 
from  the  ships. 

And  when  Eurypylus  saw  him  thus  beset  he 
went  and  stood  beside  him,  and  smote  a  Tro- 
jan chief  and  slew  him.  But  when  he  leapt 
upon  the  dead  man  and  began  to  spoil  him  of  his 
arms,  then  Paris  drew  his  bow  upon  him,  and 
pierced  him  with  an  arrow  in  the  right  thigh. 

Then  Eurypylus  called  aloud,  "  O  friends, 
leaders  of  the  Greeks,  come,  and  keep  the  day 
of  death  from  Ajax,  for  he  is  sore  beset." 

Then  the  Greeks  stood  close  about  him,  and 
Ajax  turned  about  and  stood  when  he  came  to 
the  ranks  of  his  fellows. 


164  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

Now  Achilles  was  standing  on  the  stern  of 
his  ship,  looking  at  the  war,  and  he  saw  Nestor 

..      .1     1      I        I  ......  -     ,          |     t      |   |  -jl     .     L  ----'  — 

carrying  Machaon  in  his  chariot  to  the  ships. 
Then  he  called  to  Patroclus,  and  Patroclus, 
who  was  in  the  tent,  came  forth;  but  it  was  an 
evil  hour  for  him.  Then  said  Achilles  :  — 

"  Now  will  the  Greeks  soon  come,  methinks, 
praying  for  help,  for  their  need  is  sore.  But 
go  and  see  who  is  this  whom  Nestor  is  taking 
to  the  ships.  His  shoulders  are  the  shoulders 
of  Machaon,  but  I  saw  not  his  face,  so  swift 
the  horses  passed  me  by." 

Then  Patroclus  ran. 

Meanwhile  Nestor  brought  Machaon  into 
his  tent.  There  Hecamede  of  the  beautiful 
locks,  whom  the  Greeks  had  given  to  Nestor 
from  the  spoils  of  Tenedos,  mixed  them  a 
posset.  First  she  placed  a  table,  and  set  on  it 
a  charger  of  bronze,  with  a  leek  that  giveth 
savour  to  drink,  and  yellow  honey,  and  barley 
meal.  After  that  she  brought  a  bowl ;  four 
handles  it  had,  pair  and  pair,  and  over  each 
pair  twin  doves  that  seemed  to  peck.  A  man 
might  scarce  lift  it  from  the  table  when  it  was 
full,  but  Nestor  raised  it  easily.  Into  the  bowl 


w 

THE   WOUNDING   OF  THE  CHIEFS.  165 

the  dame  poured  Pramnian  wine,  and  shredded 
on  it  cheese  of  goat's  milk,  and  scattered  the 
barley  meal.  And  when  the  mess  was  ready, 
she  bade  them  drink.  So  they  drank,  and  de- 
lighted their  souls  with  talk.  But  Patroclus 
stood  in  the  door.  But  when  old  Nestor  saw 
him,  he  went  and  took  him  by  the  hand,  and 
would  have  had  him  sit  down.  But  Patroclus 
would  not,  saying  :  — 

"  Stay  me  not.  I  came  but  to  see  who  is 
this  that  thou  hast  brought  wounded  from  the 
battle.  And  now  I  see  that  it  is  Machaon. 
Therefore  I  will  return  ;  for  thou  knowest 
what  manner  of  man  is  Achilles,  that  he  is 
hasty  and  swift  to  blame." 

Then  said  Nestor:  "  But  what  careth  Achilles 
for  the  Greeks  ?  or  why  doth  he  ask  who  are 
wounded  ?  But,  O  Patroclus,  dost  thou  mind 
the  day  when  I  and  Ulysses  came  to  the  house 
of  Peleus,  and  how  that  thy  father  Menaetius 
was  there,  and  how  we  feasted  in  the  hall  ;  and 
when  the  feast  was  finished  told  our  errand, 
for  we  were  gathering  the  heroes  for  the  war 
against  the  sons  of  Troy  ?  Right  willing  were 
ye  two  to  come,  and  many  counsels  did  the  old 


166  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

~  Fj  we 

men  give  you.  Then  to  Achilles  Peleus  said 
that  he  should  always  be  foremost  in  the  host, 
but  to  thee  thy  father  Menaetius  spake :  'Achilles 
is  nobler  born  than  thou,  and  stronger  far;  but 
thou  art  older.  Do  thou  therefore  counsel  him 
well,  when  there  is  need.'  But  this  thou  for- 
gettest,  Patroclus.  Hear,  then,  what  I  say.  It 
may  be  that  Achilles  will  not  go  forth  to  the 
battle.  But  let  him  send  thee  forth,  and  the 
Myrmidons  with  thee,  and  let  him  put  his  arms 
upon  thee,  so  that  the  sons  of  Troy  be  affrighted, 
thinking  that  he  is  in  the  battle,  and  we  shall 
have  breathing  space." 

Then  Patroclus  turned  to  run  to  Achilles, 
but  as  he  ran  he  met  Eurypylus,  who  spake  to 
him  :  — 

"  Small  hope  is  there  now  for  the  Greeks, 
seeing  that  all  their  bravest  chiefs  lie  wounded 
at  the  ships.  But  do  thou  help  me,  for 
thou  knowest  all  the  secrets  of  healing,  see- 
ing that  the  wise  Cheiron  himself  taught 
thee." 

Then  Patroclus  answered,  "  I  am  even  now 
on  my  way  to  tell  these  things  to  Achilles,  but 
thee  I  may  not  leave  in  thy  trouble." 


THE   WOUNDING   OF  THE  CHIEFS.          1 67 

So  he  took  him  to  his  tent,  and  cut  out  the 
arrow  from  his  thigh,  washing  the  wound  with 
water,  and  putting  on  it  a  bitter,  healing  root, 
so  that  the  pain  was  stayed  and  the  blood 
stanched. 


1 68  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

THE    BATTLE    AT    THE    WALL. 

Now  by  this  time  the  Trojans  were  close 
upon  the  trench.  But  the  horses  stood  on  the 
brink,  fearing  to  leap  it,  for  it  was  broad  and 
deep,  and  the  Greeks  had  put  great  stakes 
therein.  Thus  said  Polydamas :  — 

"  Surely,  Hector,  this  is  madness  that  we 
strive  to  cross  the  trench  in  our  chariots,  for  it 
is  broad  and  deep,  and  there  are  great  stakes 
therein.  Look,  too,  at  this :  even  if  we  should 
be  able  to  cross  it,  how  will  the  matter  stand  ? 
If,  indeed,  it  be  the  pleasure  of  Zeus  that  the 
Greeks  should  perish  utterly  —  it  will  be  well. 
But  if  they  turn  upon  us  and  pursue  us,  driv- 
ing us  back  from  the  ships,  then  shall  we  not 
be  able  to  return.  Wherefore  let  us  leave  our 
chariots  here  upon  the  brink,  and  go  on  foot 
against  the  wall." 

So  they  went  in  five  companies,  of  whom 
Hector  led  that  which  was  bravest  and  largest, 


THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  WALL.  169 

and  with  him  were  Polydamas  and  Cebriones. 
And  the  next  Paris  commanded.  And  of  the 
third  Helenus  and  Dei'phobus  were  leaders, 
and  with  them  was  Asius,  the  son  of  Hyrtacus, 
from  Arisbe.  And  the  fourth  followed  ^Eneas, 
the  valiant  son  of  Anchises.  But  of  the  allies 
Sarpedon  was  the  leader,  and  with  him  were 
Glaucus  and  Asteropaeus.  And  in  each  com- 
pany they  joined  shield  to  shield,  and  so  went 
against  the  Greeks.  Nor  was  there  one  of 
them  but  hearkened  to  the  counsel  of  Poly- 
damas when  he  bade  them  leave  their  chariots 
by  the  trench,  save  Asius  only.  But  Asius 
drove  his  chariot  right  up  to  that  gate  which 
was  on  the  left  hand  in  the  wall.  Now  the 
gates  chanced  to  be  open,  for  the  warders  had 
opened  them,  if  so  any  of  the  Greeks  that  fled 
might  save  themselves  within  them.  Now  the 
warders  were  two  mighty  heroes  of  the  race  of 
the  Lapithae,  Polypcetes  and  Leonteus ;  and 
these,  when  they  saw  Asius  and  his  company 
coming,  went  without  and  stood  in  front  of  the 
gates,  just  as  two  wild  boars  stand  at  bay 
against  a  crowd  of  men  and  dogs.  And  all 
the  while  they  that  stood  on  the  wall  threw 


Ufrifc 

I/O  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

heavy  stones  which  fell,  thick  as  the  snow- 
flakes  fall  in  the  winter,  on  the  men  of  Troy, 
and  loud  rang  the  helmets  and  the  shields. 
And  many  fell  wounded  to  the  death,  nor 
could  Asius,  for  all  his  fury,  win  his  way  into 
the  walls.  But  where,  at  another  of  the  gates, 
Hector  led  the  way,  there  appeared  a  strange 
marvel  in  the  skies,  for  an  eagle  was  bearing 
in  his  claws  a  great  snake,  which  it  had  taken 
as  a  prey.  But  the  snake  fought  fiercely  for 
its  life,  and  writhed  itself  about,  even  till  it  bit 
the  eagle  on  the  breast.  Whereupon  the 
eagle  dropped  it  into  the  midst  of  the  host, 
and  fled  with  a  loud  cry.  Then  Polydamas, 
the  wise  counsellor,  came  near  to  Hector  and 
said :  — 

"  Now  it  will  be  well  that  we  should  not 
follow  these  Greeks  to  their  ships.  For  I  take 
it  that  this  marvel  that  we  have  seen  is  a  sign 
to  us.  For  as  this  eagle  had  caught  in  his 
claws  a  snake,  but  held  it  not,  dropping  it 
before  it  could  bear  it  to  her  young,  so  shall  it 
fare  with  us.  For  we  shall  drive  the  Greeks 
to  their  ships,  yet  shall  not  subdue  them,  but 
shall  return  in  disorder  by  the  way  that  we 


THE  BATTLE  AT  THE   WALL.  i;t 

came,  leaving  full  many  of  our  comrades 
behind  us." 

But  Hector  frowned,  and  answered :  "  Nay, 
but  this  is  ill  counsel,  Polydamas.  For  if  thou 
sayest  this  from  thy  heart,  surely  the  gods 
have  changed  thy  wisdom  into  foolishness. 
Dost  thou  bid  me  forget  the  command  of  Zeus 
the  Thunderer,  and  take  heed  to  birds,  how 
they  fly?  Little  care  I  whether  they  go  to 
the  east  or  to  the  west,  to  the  right  or  to 
the  left.  Surely  there  is  but  one  sign  for  a 
brave  man,  that  he  be  fighting  for  his  father- 
land. Wherefore  take  thou  heed ;  for  if  thou 
holdest  back  from  the  war,  or  holdest  back  any 
other,  lo !  I  will  smite  thee  with  my  spear." 

Then  he  sprang  forward,  and  the  men  of 
Troy  followed  him  with  a  shout.  And  Zeus 
sent  down  from  Ida  a  great  blast  of  wind 
which  bore  the  dust  of  the  plain  straight  to 
the  ships,  troubling  the  hearts  of  the  Greeks. 
Then  the  Trojans  sought  to  drag  down  the 
battlements  from  the  wall,  and  to  wrench  up 
the  posts  which  had  been  set  to  strengthen  it. 
Nor  did  the  Greeks  give  way,  but  they  joined 
shield  to  shield,  and  fought  for  the  wall.  And 


1/2  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

foremost  among  them  were  Ajax  the  Greater 
and  Ajax  the  Less.  Just  as  the  snowlalts~  in 
mid-winter,  when  the  winds  are  hushed,  and 
the  mountain-tops  are  covered,  and  the  plains 
and  the  dwellings  of  men  and  the  very  shores 
of  the  sea,  up  to  the  waves'  edge,  so  thickly 
fell  the  stones  which  the  Greeks  showered 
from  the  wall  against  the  men  of  Troy,  and 
which  these  again  threw  upon  the  Greeks. 
But  still  Hector  and  his  men  availed  not  to 
break  through  the  gate.  But  at  the  last  Zeus 
stirred  up  the  heart  of  his  own  son,  Sarpedon. 
Holding  his  shield  before  him  he  went,  and  he 
shook  in  either  hand  a  spear.  As  goes  a  lion, 
when  hunger  presses  him  sore,  against  a  stall 
of  oxen  or  a  sheepfold,  and  cares  not  though 
he  find  men  and  dogs  keeping  watch  against 
him,  so  Sarpedon  went  against  the  wall.  And 
first  he  spake  to  stout  Glaucus,  his  comrade :  — 
"  Tell  me,  Glaucus,  why  is  it  that  men  honour 
us  at  home  with  the  chief  rooms  at  feasts,  and 
with  fat  portions  of  flesh  and  with  sweet  wine, 
and  that  we  have  a  great  domain  of  orchard 
and  plough  land  by  the  banks  of  Xanthus  ? 
Surely  it  is  that  we  may  fight  in  the  front  rank. 


^ 

us  Jj 

J0f,          THE  BATTLE  AT  THE   WALL.  173 

^•CwUt/ 

Then  shall  some  one  who  may  behold  us  say, '  Of 
a  truth  these  are  honourable  men,  these  princes 
of  Lycia,  and  not  without  good  right  do  they 
eat  the  fat  and  drink  the  sweet,  for  they  fight 
ever  in  the  front.'  Now,  indeed,  if  we  might 
live  forever,  nor  know  old  age  nor  death, 
neither  would  I  fight  among  the  first,  nor 
would  I  bid  thee  arm  thyself  for  the  battle. 
But  seeing  that  there  are  ten  thousand  fates 
about  us  which  no  man  may  avoid,  let  us  see 
whether  we  shall  win  glory  from  another,  or 
another  shall  take  it  from  us." 

And  Glaucus  listened  to  his  words  and 
charged  at  his  side,  and  the  great  host  of  the 
Lycians  followed  them.  Sore  dismayed  was 
Menestheus  the  Athenian  when  he  saw  them. 
All  along  the  wall  of  the  Greeks  he  looked, 
spying  out  for  help ;  and  he  saw  Ajax  the 
Greater  and  Ajax  the  Less,  and  with  them 
Teucer,  who  had  just  come  forth  from  his  tent. 
Close  to  him  they  were,  but  it  was  of  no  avail 
to  shout,  so  loud  was  the  clash  and  din  of  arms, 
of  shields  and  helmets,  and  the  thundering  at 
the  gates,  for  each  one  of  these  did  the  men  of 
Troy  assail. 


T74  1HE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD,  m' 


Wherefore  he  called  to  him  Thoas  the  herald, 
and  said  :  "  Run,  Thoas,  and  call  Ajax  hither, — 
both  of  the  name,  if  that  may  be, —  for  the  end 
is  close  upon  us  in  this  place,  so  mightily  press 
on  the  chiefs  of  the  Lycians,  who  were  ever 
fiery  fighters.  But  if  there  is  trouble  there 
also,  let  at  the  least  Ajax  the  Greater  come, 
and  with  him  Teucer  with  his  bow." 

Then  the  herald  ran  and  said  as  he  had 
been  bidden. 

And  Ajax  Telamon  spake  to  the  son  oi 
Oi'leus :  "  Stand  thou  here  with  Lycomedes 
and  stay  the  enemy.  But  I  will  go  thither, 
and  come  again  when  I  have  finished  my 
work." 

So  he  went,  and  Teucer  his  brother  went 
with  him,  with  Pandion  carrying  his  bow. 
And  even  as  they  went  the  Lycians  came  up 
like  a  tempest  on  the  wall.  But  Ajax  slew 
Epicles,  a  comrade  of  Sarpedon,  smiting  him 
on  the  head  with  a  mighty  stone,  and  crushing 
all  the  bones  of  his  head.  And  Teucer  smote 
Glaucus  on  the  shoulder  and  wounded  him  sore. 
Silently  did  Glaucus  leap  down  from  the  wall, 
for  he  would  not  that  any  of  the  Greeks  should 


eu>afK>w^^r  \KBCO 

tei/d 


BATTLE  AT  THE  WALL.  1  75 

see  that  he  was  wounded.  But  Sarpedon  saw 
that  he  had  departed,  and  it  grieved  him. 
Nevertheless  he  ceased  not  from  the  battle,  but 
first  slew  Alcmaon,  the  son  of  Mestor,  and  next 
caught  one  of  the  battlements  in  his  hands,  and 
dragged  it  down.  So  the  wall  was  laid  open, 
and  a  way  was  made  for  the  Trojans  to  enter. 
Then  did  both  Ajax  and  Teucer  aim  at  him 
together.  And  Teucer  smote  the  strap  of  the 
shield,  but  harmed  him  not,  and  Ajax  drove 
his  spear  through  his  shield  and  stayed  him,  so 
that  he  fell  back  a  space  from  the  battlement, 
yet  would  not  cease  from  the  fight.  Loud  he 
shouted  to  the  Lycians,  crying  :  — 

"  Men  of  Lycia,  why  do  ye  abate  your  cour- 
age ?  Hard  is  it  for  me,  for  all  that  my 
strength  is  great,  to  break  down  the  wall  with 
my  own  hands  only,  and  to  clear  the  road  to 
the  ships." 

So  spake  Sarpedon,  and  his  people  shrank 
from  the  reproach,  and  crowded  close  about 
their  King.  And  on  the  other  hand  the  Greeks 
strengthened  their  ranks  within  the  wall,  for 
the  matter  was  of  life  or  death.  Long  time 
they  fought  with  equal  might,  for  neither  could 


£t06M 

..fflb 

176  77/£  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

the  Lycians  break  through  the  wall  of  the 
Greeks  and  make  a  way  to  the  ships,  nor  could 
the  Greeks  drive  back  the  Lycians  from  the 
wall.  Even  as  two  neighbours,  standing  with 
measures  in  their  hands,  contend  about  some 
boundary,  so  the  Lycians  and  the  Greeks  con- 
tended for  the  battlements.  And  many  a  man 
was  wounded  with  the  pitiless  bronze,  either 
smitten  in  the  back,  where  he  was  without 
defence,  or  smitten  in  front  through  his  shield ; 
and  all  the  battlements  were  bespattered  with 
the  blood  of  men.  And  still  they  held  the 
scales  of  battle  level  between  them,  as  when  a 
just-dealing  woman  puts  the  weight  in  one 
scale  and  the  wool  in  the  other,  and  lifts  them 
up  and  balances  them,  earning  a  petty  gain, 
that  she  may  feed  her  children  therewith. 

So  it  was  till  Zeus  gave  the  glory  to  Hector. 
He  leaped  within  the  wall,  and  cried  to  the 
men  of  Troy,  "  Now  follow  me,  and  break 
down  the  wall,  and  burn  the  ships." 

So  he  spake,  and  they  heard  his  voice,  and 
rushed  together  on  the  wall.  Now  in  front  of 
the  gate  there  lay  a  great  stone,  broad  at  the 
base  and  sharp  at  the  top.  Scarce  could  two 


TtiE  BATTLE  AT  TtiE  WALL.  if? 

men  of  the  strongest,  such  as  are  men  in  these 
days,  move  it  with  levers  on  to  a  wagon ;  but 
Hector  lifted  it  easily,  easily  as  a  shepherd 
carries  in  one  hand  the  fleece  of  a  sheep.  Two 
folding  doors  there  were  in  the  gates,  held  by 
bolts  and  a  key,  and  at  these  he  hurled  the 
great  stone,  planting  his  feet  apart,  that  his 
aim  might  be  the  surer  and  stronger.  With 
a  mighty  crash  it  came  against  the  gates,  and 
the  bolts  held  not  against  it,  and  the  hinges 
were  broken,  so  that  the  folding  doors  flew 
back.  Then  Hector  leapt  into  the  space,  hold- 
ing a  spear  in  either  hand,  and  his  eyes  flashed 
as  fire.  And  the  men  of  Troy  came  after  him, 
some  mounting  the  wall,  and  some  pouring 
through  the  gates. 


M 


178  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

<>o- Go/' 
CHAPTER    XV,. 

THE    BATTLE    AT    THE    SHIPS. 

AND  when  Zeus  had  brought  the  Trojans 
near  to  the  ships,  he  turned  away  his  eyes,  and 
looked  upon  them  no  more,  for  he  deemed  that 
none  of  the  immortal  gods  would  come  to  help 
or  Trojan  or  Greek.  But  Poseidon  was  watch- 
ing the  battle  from  the  wooded  height  of  Samo- 
thrace,  whence  he  could  see  Ida  and  Troy  and 
the  ships.  And  he  pitied  the  Greeks,  when  he 
saw  how  they  fled  before  Hector,  and  purposed 
in  his  heart  to  help  them.  So  he  left  the  height 
of  Samothrace,  and  came  with  four  strides  to 
^)gae,  where  his  palace  was  in  the  depths  of 
the  sea.  There  he  harnessed  the  horses  to  his 
chariot,  and  rode,  passing  over  the  waves,  and 
the  great  beasts  of  the  sea  gambolled  about 
him  as  he  went,  knowing  their  king. 

His  horses  he  stabled  in  a  cavern  of  the  sea, 
and  loosed  them  from  the  car,  and  gave  them 
immortal  food  to  eat,  and  put  shackles  of  gold 


I 


THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  SHIPS.  179 

about  their  feet  that  they  might  abide  his 
coming. 

And  all  the  while  the  men  of  Troy  came  on, 
following  Hector,  like  a  storm  or  a  great  flame, 
for  they  thought  to  take  the  ships  and  to  slay 
the  Greeks  beside  them. 

But  Poseidon  came  to  the  camp  of  the 
Greeks,  taking  upon  him  the  shape  of  Calchas 
the  herald.  ^J£st  he  spake  to  either  Ajax,  say- 
ing :  "  Hold  fast,  ye  men  of  might,  so  that  ye 
save  the  people.  For  the  rest  of  the  wall  I  fear 
not,  but  only  for  the  place  where  Hector  rages. 
Now  may  some  god  inspire  you  to  stand  fast 
and  drive  him  back." 

And  as  he  spake,  he  smote  each  with  his 
staff,  and  filled  them  with  courage,  and  gave 
strength  to  hands  and  feet.  Then  he  passed 
from  them  even  as  a  hawk  that  riseth  from 
a  cliff,  chasing  a  bird. 

_And  the  Lesser  Ajax  knew  him,  and  spake  to 
his  comrade,  saying :  "  This  is  some  god  that 
bids  us  fight  for  the  ships ;  he  was  not  Calchas, 
for  I  marked  the  goings  of  his  legs  and  his  feet 
as  he  went.  The  gods  are  easily  discerned. 
And  verily  my  heart  within  me  is  eager  for  the 


ISO  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

The  Greater  Ajax  answered  him,  "  Even  so 
do  my  own  hands  yearn  about  the  spear,  and 
my  heart  is  on  fire,  and  my  feet  carry  me  away, 
and  I  am  eager  to  fight  with  Hector,  even  I 
alone,  for  all  his  fury." 

Then  Poseidon  went  to  the  other  chiefs, 
going  up  and  down  the  ranks,  and  urged  them 
to  stand  fast  against  their  enemies.  But  not 
the  less  did  the  men  of  Troy  press  on,  Hector 
leading  the  way. 

Among  the  foremost  came  Dei'phobus,  high 
in  heart,  holding  his  shield  before  him.  At 
him  Meriones  cast  his  spear,  and  missed  not 
his  aim,  for  the  spear  struck  full  the  bull's-hide 
shield.  Yet  it  pierced  it  not,  but  brake ;  and 
De'iphobus  held  it  from  him,  fearing  greatly 
the  stroke;  but  Meriones  went  back  to  his 
own  people  vexed  in  heart,  and  ran  to  his  tent, 
that  he  might  fetch  another  spear. 

Next  Teucer  slew  a  Trojan,  Imbrius  by 
name,  wounding  him  under  the  ear.  He  fell 
as  some  tall  poplar  falls  which  a  woodman  fells 
with  axe  of  bronze.  Then  Teucer  rushed  to 
seize  his  arms,  but  Hector  cast  his  spear. 
Teucer  it  struck  not,  missing  him  by  a  little ; 


THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  SHIPS.  l8l 

but  Amphimachus  it  smote  on  the  breast  so 
that  he  fell  dead.  Then  Hector_seized  the 
dead  man's  helmet,  seeking  to  drag  the  body 
among  the  sons  of  Troy.  But  Ajax  stretched 
forth  his  great  spear  against  him,  and  struck 
the  boss  of  his  shield  mightily,  driving  him 
"Backwards,  so  that  he  loosed  hold  of  the  hel- 
met of  Amphimachus.  And  him  his  comrades 
bore  to  the  rear  of  the  host,  and  the  body 
of  Imbrius  also  they  carried  off.  Then  did 
Idomeneus  the  Cretan,  son  of  Minos,  the  wise 
judge,  perform  many  valiant  deeds,  going  to 
the  left-hand  of  the  battle-line,  for  he  said :  — 

"  The  Greeks  have  stay  enough  where  the 
great  Ajax  is.  No  man  that  eats  bread  is 
better  than  he ;  no,  not  Achilles'  self,  were  the 
two  to  stand  man  to  man,  but  Achilles,  indeed, 
is  swifter  of  foot." 

And  first  of  all  he  slew  Othryoneus,  who 
had  but  newly  come,  hearing  the  fame  of  the 
war.  For  Cassandra's  sake  he  had  come,  that 
he  might  have  her  to  wife,  vowing  that  he 
would  drive  the  Greeks  from  Troy,  and  Priam 
had  promised  him  the  maiden.  But  now 
Idomeneus  slew  him,  and  cried  over  him :  — 


1 82  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILfAD. 

"  This  was  a  great  thing  that  thou  didst 
promise  to  Priam,  for  which  he  was  to  give 
thee  his  daughter.  Thou  shouldst  have  come 
to  us,  and  we  would  have  given  thee  the  fairest 
of  the  daughters  of  Agamemnon,  bringing  her 
from  Argos,  if  thou  wouldst  have  engaged  to 
help  us  to  take  this  city  of  Troy.  But  come 
now  with  me  to  the  ships,  that  we  may  treat 
about  this  marriage ;  thou  wilt  find  that  we 
have  open  hands." 

So  he  spake,  mocking  the  dead.  Then 
King  Asius  charged,  coming  on  foot  with  his 
chariot  behind  him.  But  ere  he  could  throw 
his  spear,  Idomeneus  smote  him  that  he  fell, 
as  falls  an  oak,  or  an  alder,  or  a  pine,  which 
men  fell  upon  the  hills.  And  the  driver  of  his 
chariot  stood  dismayed,  nor  thought  to  turn 
his  horses  and  flee,  so  that  Antilochus,  the  son 
of  Nestor,  struck  him  down,  and  took  the 
chariot  and  horses  for  his  own.  Then  Dei'pho- 
bus  in  great  wrath  came  near  to  Idomeneus, 
and  would  have  slain  him  with  a  spear,  but 
could  not,  for  he  covered  himself  with  his 
shield,  and  the  spear  passed  over  his  lu-ad. 
Yet  did  it  not  fly  in  vain,  for  it  li^hu-d  on 


Mjjt?lc 

tfD£  ^j 

THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  SHfPS.  183 

Hypsenor,  striking  him  on  the  right  side. 
Andjis  he  fell,  Dei'phobus  cried  aloud :  — 

"  Now  is  Asius  avenged ;  and  though  he  go 
down  to  that  strong  porter  who  keeps  the  gates 
of  hell,  yet  will  he  be  glad,  for  I  have  sent  him 
a  companion." 

But  scarce  had  he  spoken  when  Idomeneus 
the  Cretan  slew  another  of  the  chiefs  of  Troy, 
Alcathoiis,  son-in-law  of  old  Anchises.  For 
Poseidon  dazed  his  eyes,  and  spread  a  numb- 
ness through  his  limbs ;  he  could  not  flee,  nor 
yet  shun  the  spear,  but  stood  as  stands  a  tree, 
or  a  stone  that  is  a  monument  of  the  dead. 
Right  in  the  breast  did  Idomeneus  smite  him, 
and  rent  the  coat  of  bronze  that  shielded  him 
from  death.  With  a  loud  clash  he  fell,  and  the 
slayer  cried :  — 

"  Small  reason  hast  thou  to  boast,  Dei'pho- 
bus, for  we  have  slain  three  for  one.  But  come 
thou  and  meet  me  in  battle,  that  thou  mayest 
know  me  who  I  am,  son  of  Deucalion,  who  was 
the  son  of  Minos,  who  was  the  son  of  Zeus." 

Then  Dei'phobus  thought  within  himself, 
should  he  meet  this  man  alone,  or  should  he 
take  some  brave  comrade  with  him  ?  And  it 


1 84  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

seemed  to  him  better  that  he  should  take  a 
brave  comrade  with  him.  Wherefore  he  ...went 
for  ^Eneas,  and  found  him  in  the  rear  of  the 
battle,  vexed  at  heart  because  King  Priam  did 
not  honour  him  among  the  princes  of  Troy. 
Then  said  he :  — 

"  Come  hither,  ^neas,  to  fight  for  Alcatholis, 
who  was  wont  to  care  for  thee  when  thou  wast 
young,  and  now  he  lies  dead  under  the  spear 
of  Idomeneus." 

So  they  two  went  together ;  and  Idomeneus 
saw  them,  but  yielded  not  from  his  place,  only 
called  to  his  comrades  that  they  should  gather 
themselves  together  and  help  him.  And  on  the 
other  side  ^neas  called  to  Dei'phobus,  and 
Paris,  and  Agenor.  So  they  fought  about  the 
body  of  Alcathous.  Then  did  ^neas  cast  his 
spear  at  Ido.meneus,  but  struck  him  not;  but 
Idomeneus  slew  CEnomaus,  only  when  he  would 
have  spoiled  him  of  his  arms  he  could  not,  for 
the  men  of  Troy  pressed  him  hard,  so  that 
perforce  he  gave  way.  And  as  he  turned, 
Dei'phobus  sought  to  slay  him  with  his  spear, 
but  smote  in  his  stead  Ascalaphus,  son  of  Ares. 
But  the  god,  his  father,  knew  not  of  it,  for  he 


THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  SHIPS.  185 

sat  on  Olympus,  kept  back  from  the  battle  by 
the  will  of  Zeus.  Great  was  the  fight  about 
the  dead  man  and  his  arms,  for  Dei'phobus 
snatched  away  the  helmet,  but  Meriones  leapt 
forward,  and  struck  him  through  the  wrist  with 
a  spear.  Straightway  he  dropped  the  helmet 
which  he  had  seized,  and  Polites,  his  brother, 
led  him  out  of  the  battle.  And  he  climbed 
into  his  chariot  and  went  back  to  the  city. 
Then  Peisander  came  against  King  Menelaus ; 
but  it  was  an  evil  fate  that  brought  him.  First 
the  son  of  Atreus  cast  his  spear,  but  missed  his 
aim.  Then  Peisander  cast  his  spear  against 
the  shield  of  the  King,  but  he  could  not  pierce 
it,  and  the  spear-head  was  broken  off.  Next 
the  son  of  Atreus  drew  his  silver-studded  sword, 
and  sprang  on  Peisander;  and  he  drew  from 
beneath  his  shield  a  goodly  axe  of  bronze,  set 
on  a  handle  of  olive  wood.  He  struck  the  hel- 
met of  the  King,  beside  the  plume ;  but  Mene- 
laus struck  him  in  the  face  above  the  nose,  and 
laid  him  dead  upon  the  ground. 

Then  Menelaus  set  his  foot  upon  his  breast, 
and  spake :  "  Thus  shall  ye  have  the  ships,  ye 
haughty  men  of  Troy.  Ye  never  want  for 


1 86  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

wickedness  and  shameful  deeds.  My  wedded 
wife  ye  took  from  me,  and  much  wealth  be- 
sides ;  and  now  ye  seek  to  burn  our  ships. 
Can  it  be,  Father  Zeus,  that  art  the  wisest  of 
gods  and  men,  that  these  things  are  from 
thee  ? " 

Then  Harpalion,  son  of  Pylaemenes,  the 
Paphlagonian  King,  leapt  upon  him,  and  smote 
his  shield  with  his  spear,  but  pierced  it  not. 
Then  he  fell  back,  avoiding  death,  but  Merio- 
nes  struck  him  with  an  arrow  through  the  hip, 
and  he  fell,  wounded  to  the  death,  and  his 
friends  lifted  him  upon  his  chariot,  and  bare 
him  back  to  Troy. 

Very  wroth  was  Paris ;  for  he  loved  Harpa- 
lion more  than  all  the  men  of  his  land.  Now 
there  was  among  the  Greeks  one  Euchenor, 
son  of  a  seer  of  Corinth.  He  had  come  to 
Troy,  knowing  well  his  fate ;  for  his  father  had 
told  him  that  either  he  should  perish  of  sick- 
ness in  his  hall,  or  be  slain  by  the  Trojans  by 
the  ships ;  so  now  Paris  slew  him  with  an 
arrow. 

Thus  on  the  left  the  Greeks  beat  back  the 
men  of  Troy;  but  Hector  knew  not  of  it 


THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  SHIPS.  187 

where  he  fought  upon  the  right,  pressing  hard 
the  Greeks,  for  there  the  wall  was  lowest,  and 
the  approach  most  easy.  Yet  there  also  did 
the  defenders  of  the  walls  make  a  brave  stand ; 
for  in  the  front  around  the  Greater  and  the 
Lesser  Ajax  stood  many  mighty  chiefs;  and 
behind,  the  Locrians  shot  with  their  arrows. 
These  had  neither  shield,  nor  spear,  nor  hel- 
met ;  and  it  was  not  their  custom  to  mingle  in 
the  press  of  battle.  They  came  to  Troy, 
trusting  in  their  bows  and  slings  of  twisted 
wool,  and  with  these  they  made  havoc  among 
the  ranks  of  Troy,  the  warriors  clad  in  bronze 
standing  before  and  sheltering  them. 

Then  had  the  men  of  Troy  fallen  back  from 
the  ships  in  grievous  disarray,  but  Polydamas 
said  to  Hector :  — 

"  O  Hector,  thou  art  ever  loath  to  hear  coun- 
sel from  others.  Yet  think  not  that  because 
thou  art  stronger  than  other  men,  therefore 
Zeus  hath  also  made  thee  wiser.  For  truly  he 
gives  diverse  gifts  to  diverse  men  —  strength 
to  one  and  counsel  to  another.  Hear,  then, 
my  words.  Thou  seest  that  the  Trojans  keep 
not  all  together,  for  some  stand  aloof,  while 


<^ 

1 88  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

some  fight,  being  few  against  many.  Do  thou 
therefore  call  the  bravest  together.  Then  shall 
we  see  whether  we  shall  burn  the  ships,  or,  it 
may  be,  win  our  way  back  without  harm  to 
Troy;  for  indeed  I  forget  not  that  there  is  a 
warrior  here  whom  no  man  may  match,  nor 
will  he,  I  trow,  always  keep  aloof  from  the 
battle." 

And  the  saying  pleased  Hector.  ^o_he^ 
went  through  the  host  looking  for  the  chiefs 
—  for  Dei'phobus,  and  Helenus,  and  Asius, 
and  Acamas,  son  of  Asius,  and  others,  who 
were  the  bravest  among  the  Trojans  and  allies. 
And  some  he  found,  and  some  he  found  not, 
for  they  had  fallen  in  the  battle,  or  had  gone 
sorely  wounded  to  the  city.  But  at  last  he 
spied  Paris,  where  he  stood  strengthening  the 
hearts  of  his  comrades.  To  him  he  spake, 
saying:  — 

"  O  Paris,  fair  of  face,  cheater  of  the  hearts 
of  women,  where  is  Dei'phobus,  and  Helenus, 
and  Asius,  and  Acamas,  son  of  Asius?  " 

But  Paris  answered  him,  "  Some  of  these  are 
dead,  and  some  are  sorely  wounded.  But  we 
who  are  left  fight  on.  Only  do  thou  lead  us 


THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  SHIPS.  189 

against  the  Greeks,  nor  wilt  thou  say  that  we 
are  slow  to  follow." 

So  Hector  went  along  the  front  of  the  battle, 
leading  the  men  of  Troy.  Nor  did  the  Greeks 
give  way  when  they  saw  him,  but  Ajax  the 
Greater  cried :  — 

"  Friend,  come  near,  nor  fear  the  men  of 
Greece.  Thou  thinkest  in  thine  heart  to  spoil 
the  ships,  but  we  have  hands  to  keep  them, 
and  ere  they  perish  Troy  itself  shall  fall  before 
us.  Soon,  I  trow,  wilt  thou  wish  that  thy 
horses  were  swifter  than  hawks,  when  they 
bear  thee  fleeing  before  us  across  the  plain  to 
the  city." 

But  Hector  answered:  "Nay,  thou  braggart 
Ajax,  what  words  are  these  ?  I  would  that  I 
were  as  surely  one  of  the  Immortals  as  this 
day  shall  surely  bring  woe  to  the  Greeks. 
And  thou,  if  thou  darest  to  meet  my  spear, 
shalt  be  slain  among  the  rest,  and  feed  with 
thy  flesh  the  beasts  of  the  field  and  the  fowls 
of  the  air." 

So  he  spake,  and  from  this  side  and  from 
that  there  went  up  a  great  cry  of  battle. 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 
$UfO£ 

CHAPTER   XVII. 

THE    BATTLE    AT   THE    SHIPS  (continued). 

So  loud  was  the  cry  that  it  roused  old  Nestor 
whereTie^aTte  his  tent,  tending  the  wounded 
Machaon.  Whereupon  he  said,  "  Sit  thou  here 
and  drink  the  red  wine  till  the  fair  Hecamede 
shall  have  got  ready  the  bath  to  wash  the  blood 
from  thy  wound ;  but  I  will  ask  how  things 
fare  in  the  battle." 

So  he  went  forth  from  the  tent,  seeking 
King  Agamemnon.  And  as  he  weniv-  the 
King  met  him,  and  with  him  were  Diomed 
and  Ulysses,  who  also  had  been  wounded  that 
day.  So  they  held  counsel  together.  And 
Agamemnon  —  for  it  troubled  him  sore  that 
the  people  were  slain  —  would  that_  _  they 
should  draw  down  the  ships  into  the  sea, 
and  should  flee  homewards,  as  soon  as  the 
darkness  should  cover  them  and  the  Trojans 
should  cease  from  the  battle. 

But  Ulysses  would  have  none  of  such  coun- 


WJ» 

BATTLE  AT  THE  SHIPS. 


sel,  saying :  "  Now  surely,  son  of  Atreus,  thou 
art  not  worthy  to  rule  over  us,  who  have  been 
men  of  war  from  our  youth.  Wilt  thou  leave 
this  city^for  the  taking  of  which  we  have  suf- 
fered so  much  ?  That  may  not  be ;  let  not 
any  one  of  the  Greeks  hear  thee  say  such 
words.  And  what  is  this,  that  thou  wouldst 
have  us  launch  our  ships  now,  whilst  the  hosts 
are  fighting?  Surely,  so  doing,  we  should  per- 
ish together,  for  the  Greeks  would  not  fight 
any  more,  seeing  that  the  ships  were  being 
launched,  and  the  men  of  Troy  would  slay  us 
altogether." 

Then  King  Agamemnon  said,  "  Thou  speak- 
est  well."  And  he  went  through  the  host,  bid- 
ding the  men  bear  themselves  bravely ;  and  all 
the  while  Poseidon  put  courage  and  strength 
into  their  hearts ;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  Hera 
lulled  Zeus  to  sleep  on  the  heights  of  Olympus, 
so  that  now  the  battle  went  against  the  men  of 
Troy.  Then  Hector  cast  his  spear  against 
Ajax  Telamon.  The  shield  kept  it  not  off, 
for  it  passed  beneath,  but  the  two  belts,  of  the 
shield  and  of  the  sword,  stayed  it,  so  that  it 
wounded  not  his  body.  Then  Hector  in  wrath 


UtO^  I 

(/u. 

192  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

and  fear  went  back  into  the  ranks  of  his  com- 
rades ;  but  as  he  went  Ajax  took  a  great  stone 
—  now  were  there  many  such  which  they  had 
as  props  for  the  ships  —  and  smote  him  above 
the  rim  of  his  shield,  on  the  neck.  As  an  oak 
falls,  stricken  by  the  thunder  of  Zeus,  so  he 
fell,  and  the  Greeks  rushed  with  a  great  cry  to 
drag  him  to  them,  but  could  not,  for  all  the 
bravest  of  the  sons  of  Troy  held  their  shields 
before  him,  —  Polydamas,  and  yEneas,  and  Sar- 
pedon,  and  Glaucus.  Then  they  carried  him 
to  the  Xanthus,  and  poured  water  upon  him. 
And  after  a  while  he  sat  up,  and  then  again 
his  spirit  left  him,  for  the  blow  had  been  very 
grievous.  But  when  the  Greeks  saw  that  Hec- 
tor had  been  carried  out  of  the  battle,  they 
pressed  on  the  more,  slaying  the  men  of  Troy, 
and  driving  them  back  even  out  of  the  camp 
and  across  the  trench.  But  when  they  came 
to  their  chariots,  where  they  had  left  them  on 
the  other  side  of  the  trench,  there  they  stood 
trembling  and  pale  with  fear,  as  men  that  flee 
in  the  day  of  battle. 

And  now  Zeus  woke  from  his  sleep,  and  he 
looked  upon  the  earth ;   and  he  saw  how  the 


1 


THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  SHIPS.  193 

Greeks  were  driving  the  men  of  Troy  before 
them,  and  Hector  lay  upon  the  plain,  and  vom- 
ited blood,  and  his  friends  knelt  about  him. 
Senseless  he  lay,  for  it  was  no  puny  hand  that 
had  dealt  the  blow.  Very  wroth  was  Zeus  to 
see  such  a  sight,  and  he  said  to  Hera:  "  What 
is  this  that  thou  hast  done,  sending  Hector 
from  the  battle  ?  Rememberest  thou  not  how 
I  hung  thee  amid  the  clouds  with  a  band  of 
gold  about  thy  hands  and  an  anvil  of  gold  on 
either  foot,  and  how  when  any  god  came  to 
help  thee  I  flung  him  from  Olympus  to  fall  till 
he  came  utterly  spent  to  the  earth  ?  Make  an 
end  of  thy  deceits,  or  verily  nothing  shall  pro- 
tect thee  from  my  wrath." 

Then  Hera  answered :  "  It  is  Poseidon  that 
afflicts  the  Trojans,  and  bears  up  the  Greeks. 
Yet  he,  too,  would  do  well  to  walk  in  the  paths 
wherein  thou  walkest." 

Then  said  Zeus :  "  Call  hither  Iris  and 
Apollo  the  Archer;  let  Iris  go  to  Poseidon, 
and  bid  him  cease  from  the  battle  and  get  him 
to  his  own  domain,  and  let  Apollo  strengthen 
Hector,  that  he  may  go  back  to  the  battle ;  so 
shall  my  will  be  accomplished,  fulfilling  the 

N 


194  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

oath  that  I  sware  to  Thetis  of  the  sea  that  I 
would  do  honour  to  her  son." 

So  he  spake,  and  Hera  obeyed  his  voice. 
To  the  council  of  the  gods  she  went.  Her 
brows  were  black  with  anger  as  she  spake: 
"  Fools !  in  your  madness  ye  are  wroth  with 
Zeus,  but  he  sitteth  apart,  and  careth  not. 
Take,  therefore,  what  evil  he  may  send,  even 
as  Ares  must  take  the  death  of  his  son  Ascala- 
phus,  who  even  now  hath  been  slain  in  the 
battle." 

Then  Ares  started  up  in  wrath,  and  smote 
his  thighs,  and  said,  "  Nay,  but  I  will  go  to 
the  ships  to  avenge  my  son,  even  though  I  be 
smitten  with  the  thunderbolt  of  Zeus." 

So  he  bade  Flight  and  Fear  yoke  his  horses, 
and  he  donned  his  glittering  arms.  Then  had 
the  anger  of  Zeus  fallen  on  the  gods ;  but 
Athene  rose  from  her  seat,  and  caught  Ares, 
and  took  the  helmet  from  his  head,  and  the 
shield  from  his  shoulders,  and  the  spear  from 
his  hand.  "  What  wilt  thou  do,  madman  ? " 
she  said.  "  Wilt  thou  bring  the  anger  of  Zeus 
upon  us  all  ?  Lay  aside  thy  wrath  for  thy  son, 
for  mightier  men  than  he  have  fallen." 


THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  SHIPS.  195 

So  speaking  she  set  Ares  again  in  his  seat. 

Then  Iris  went  to  Poseidon,  and  gave  him 
the  message  of  Zeus.  Very  wroth  was  the 
god,  and  said :  "  Thinketh  he  then  to  control 
me  by  force  who  am  his  equal  in  honour? 
Three  brethren  are  we,  and  the  Fates  gave  the 
sea  to  me  for  my  dominion,  and  to  Hades  the 
realm  of  darkness,  and  to  Zeus  the  heaven  ; 
but  the  earth  is  for  all.  I  walk  not  by  the  will 
of  Zeus;  let  him  remain  in  his  own  posses- 
sions, and  meddle  not." 

But  Iris  answered :  "  Shaker  of  the  earth, 
shall  I  bear  back  so  rough  an  answer  to  Zeus  ? 
Surely  thou  knowest  the  might  of  the  elder 
born?" 

Then  Poseidon  said,  "  Iris,  thou  speakest 
well ;  this  time  will  I  yield,  but  know  that  if 
he  shall  scorn  me  and  the  other  gods  and  let 
Troy  stand  untaken,  and  give  not  victory  to 
the  Greeks,  there  shall  be  endless  feud  between 
him  and  me." 

Meanwhile  Apollo  went,  at  the  bidding  of 
Zeus,  to  Hector.  He  found  him  sitting  up, 
for  the  will  of  Zeus  had  revived  him.  Then 
spake  Apollo :  "  Hector,  why  sittest  thou  apart 


196  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

from  thy  fellows?  Hath  trouble  come  upon 
thee?" 

Hector  made  reply  in  a  feeble  voice :  "  Who 
art  thou  among  the  gods  that  speakest  to  me  ? 
Knowest  thou  not  that  Ajax  smote  me  with  a 
mighty  stone  and  stayed  me  from  the  battle  ? 
Verily  I  thought  that  I  had  gone  down  this 
day  to  the  dwellings  of  the  dead." 

But  Apollo  said:  "  Be  of  good  cheer,  for  Zeus 
hath  sent  me,  who  am  Apollo  of  the  Golden 
Sword,  to  stand  by  thee  and  to  succour  thee. 
Come,  now,  and  bid  thy  people  advance  toward 
the  ships,  and  I  will  go  before  thee,  and  make 
the  way  easy  for  thy  horses." 

So  Hector  rose  up  in  his  might,  and  entered 
into  the  battle,  even  as  men  that  chase  a  stag 
or  a  wild  goat,  and  lo !  a  lion  crosseth  their 
path,  so  were  the  Greeks  afraid  when  they  saw 
Hector,  the  son  of  Priam.  And  Thoas  the 
y^tolian  spake,  saying:  — 

"  Surely  this  is  a  great  marvel  that  I  see  with 
mine  eyes.  For  we  thought  that  Hector  had 
been  slain  by  the  hand  of  Ajax,  son  of  Tela- 
mon,  and  now,  behold !  he  is  come  back  to  the 
battle.  Many  Greeks  have  fallen  before  him, 


THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  SHIPS.  197 

and  many,  methinks,  will  fall,  for  of  a  truth 
some  god  has  raised  him  up  and  helps  him. 
But  come,  let  all  the  bravest  stand  together. 
So,  mighty  though  he  be,  he  shall  fear  to  enter 
our  array." 

jAnd  all  the  bravest  gathered  together  and 
stood  in  the  front,  but  the  multitude  made  for 
the  ships.  But  Hector  came  on,  and  Apollo 
before  him,  with  his  shoulders  wrapped  in 
cloud,  and  the  aegis  shield  in  his  hand.  And 
many  of  the  Greeks  fell  slain  before  the  sons 
of  Troy,  as  lasus  of  Athens,  and  Arcesilaiis  the 
Boeotian,  and  Medon,  who  was  brother  to  Ajax 
the  Less,  and  many  more.  Thus  the  battle 
turned  again,  and  came  near  to  the  trench ; 
and  now  Apollo  made  it  easy  for  the  men  of 
Troy  to  pass,  so  that  they  left  not  their 
chariots,  as  before,  upon  the  brink,  but  drave 
them  across. 

Meanwhile  Patroclus  sat  in  the  tent  of  Eury- 
pylus,  dressing  his  wound  and  talking  with  him. 
But  when  he  saw  what  had  chanced,  he  struck 
his  thigh  with  his  hand  and  cried :  — 

"  Now  must  I  leave  thee,  Eurypylus ;  for  I 
must  haste  to  Achilles,  so  dreadful  is  now  the 


RIL 


198  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

battle.  Perchance  I  may  persuade  him  that 
he  go  forth  to  the  fight." 

So  he  ran  to  the  tent  of  Achilles.  Now, 
indeed,  the  men  of  Troy  were  at  the  ships; 
for  Hector  and  Ajax  were  fighting  for  one  of 
them,  and  Ajax  could  not  drive  him  back,  and 
Hector  could  not  burn  the  ship  with  fire. 
Then  sprang  forward  Caletor  with  a  torch  in 
his  hand,  and  Ajax  smote  him  on  the  heart 
with  a  sword,  so  that  he  fell  close  by  the  ship. 
Then  Hector  cried :  — 

"  Come,  now,  Trojans  and  allies,  and  fight 
for  Caletor,  that  the  Greeks  spoil  him  not  of 
his  arms." 

So  saying,  he  cast  his  spear  at  Ajax.  Him 
he  struck  not,  but  Cytherius,  his  comrade,  he 
slew.  Then  was  Ajax  sore  dismayed,  and 
spake  to  Teucer,  his  brother  :  — 

"  See,  now,  Cytherius,  our  dear  comrade,  is 
dead,  slain  by  Hector.  But  where  are  thy 
arrows  and  thy  bow?" 

So  Teucer  took  his  bow  and  laid  an  arrow 
on  the  string,  and  smote  Clitus,  who  was  char- 
ioteer to  Polydamas.  And  then  he  aimed  an 
arrow  at  Hector's  self;  but  ere  he  could  loose 


THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  SHIPS.  199 

it,  the  bow-string  was  broken  in  his  hands,  and 
the  arrow  went  far  astray,  for  Zeus  would  not 
that  Hector  should  so  fall.  Then  Teucer 
cried  aloud  to  his  brother :  — 

"  Surely  some  god  confounds  our  counsels, 
breaking  my  bow-string,  which  this  very  day  I 
tied  new  upon  my  bow." 

But  Ajax  said :  "  Let  be  thy  bow,  if  it  please 
not  the  gods,  but  take  spear  and  shield,  and 
fight  with  the  men  of  Troy.  For  though  they 
master  us  to-day,  they  shall  not  take  our  ships 
for  naught." 

So  Teucer  armed  himself  afresh  for  the  bat- 
tle. But  Hector,  when  he  saw  the  broken 
bow,  cried  out :  — 

"  Come  on,  ye  men  of  Troy,  for  Zeus  is  with 
us.  Even  now  he  brake  the  bow  of  Teucer, 
the  great  archer.  And  they  whom  Zeus  helps 
prevail,  and  they  whom  he  favours  not  grow 
weak.  Come  on ;  for  even  though  a  man  fall, 
it  is  well  that  he  fall  fighting  for  his  fatherland ; 
and  his  wife  and  his  children  are  safe,  nor  shall 
his  glory  cease,  if  so  be  that  we  drive  the  Greeks 
in  their  ships  across  the  sea." 

And  on  the  other  side  Ajax,  the  son  of  Tela- 


200  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

mon,  called  to  the  Greeks  and  bade  them  quit 
themselves  like  men.  Then  the  battle  grew 
yet  fiercer,  for  Hector  slew  Schedius,  who  led 
the  men  of  Phocis,  and  Ajax  slew  Laodamas, 
son  of  Antenor,  and  Polydamas  Otus  of  Cyl- 
lene.  Then  Meges  thought  to  slay  Polydamas ; 
but  his  spear  went  astray,  smiting  down  Craes- 
mus ;  and  Dolops,  who  was  grandson  to  Lao- 
medon,  cast  his  spear  at  Meges,  but  the  corselet 
stayed  the  point,  though  it  pierced  the  shield. 
But  Dolops'  self  Menelalis  smote  through  the 
shoulder,  but  could  not  spoil  him  of  his  arms, 
for  Hector  and  his  brothers  hindered  him.  So 
they  fought,  slaying  one  another ;  but  Hector 
still  waxed  greater  and  greater  in  the  battle, 
and  still  the  men  of  Troy  came  on,  and  still 
the  Greeks  gave  way.  So  they  came  again, 
these  pushing  forward  and  these  yielding 
ground,  to  the  ships.  And  Hector  caught 
hold  of  one  of  them,  even  the  ship  of  Protesi- 
laiis:  him,  indeed,  it  had  brought  from  Troy, 
but  it  took  him  not  back,  for  he  had  fallen, 
slain  by  the  hand  of  Hector,  as  he  leapt,  first 
of  all  the  Greeks,  upon  the  shore  of  Troy. 
This  Hector  caught,  and  the  battle  raged  like 


THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  SHIPS.  2OI 

fire  about  it;  for  the  men  of  Troy  and  the 
Greeks  were  gathered  round,  and  none  fought 
with  arrows  or  javelins  from  afar,  but  man  to 
man,  with  battle-axe  and  sword  and  great 
spears  pointed  at  either  end.  And  many  a 
fair  weapon  lay  shattered  on  the  ground,  and 
the  earth  flowed  with  blood  as  with  a  river. 
But  still  Hector  held  the  stem  of  the  ship  with 
his  hand,  and  called  to  the  men  of  Troy  that 
they  should  bring  fire,  for  that  Zeus  had  given 
them  the  victory  that  day.  Then  even  Ajax 
himself  gave  way,  so  did  the  spears  of  the 
Trojans  press  him ;  for  now  he  stood  no  longer 
upon  the  stern  deck,  but  on  the  rowers'  bench, 
thrusting  thence  with  his  spear  at  any  one  who 
sought  to  set  fire  to  the  ship.  And  ever  he 
cried  to  the  Greeks  with  a  terrible  voice :  — 

"  O  ye  Greeks  !  now  must  ye  quit  yourselves 
like  men.  For  have  ye  any  helpers  behind  ? 
or  have  ye  any  walls  to  shelter  you  ?  No  city 
is  here,  with  well-built  battlements,  wherein  ye 
might  be  safe,  while  the  people  should  fight 
for  you.  For  we  are  here  in  the  plain  of  Troy, 
and  the  sea  is  close  behind  us,  and  we  are  far 
from  our  country.  Wherefore  all  our  hope  is 


202  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

in  valour,  and  not  in  shrinking  back  from  the 
battle." 

And  still  he  thrust  with  his  spear,  if  any  of 
the  men  of  Troy,  at  Hector's  bidding,  sought 
to  bring  fire  against  the  ships.  Full  twelve  he 
wounded  where  he  stood. 


DEEDS  AND  DEATH  OF  PATROCLUS.       203 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

THE  DEEDS  AND  DEATH  OF  PATROCLUS. 

PATROCLUS  stood  by  Achilles,  weeping  bit- 
terly. Then  said  Achilles :  "  What  ails  thee, 
Patroclus,  that  thou  weepest  like  a  girl-child 
that  runs  along  by  her  mother's  side,  and 
would  be  taken  up,  holding  her  gown,  and 
looking  at  her  with  tearful  eyes  till  she  lift  her 
in  her  arms  ?  Hast  thou  heard  evil  news  from 
Phthia?  Mencetius  yet  lives,  they  say,  and 
Peleus.  Or  art  thou  weeping  for  the  Greeks, 
because  they  perish  for  their  folly  ?  " 

Then  said  Patroclus :  "  Be  not  wroth  with 
me,  great  Achilles,  for  indeed  the  Greeks  are 
In  grievous  straits,  and  all  their  bravest  are 
wounded,  and  still  thou  cherishest  thy  wrath. 
Surely  Peleus  was  not  thy  father,  nor  Thetis 
thy  mother ;  but  the  rocks  begat  thee,  and  the 
sea  brought  thee  forth.  Or  if  thou  goest  not 
to  the  battle,  fearing  some  warning  from  the 
gods,  yet  let  me  go,  and  thy  Myrmidons  with 


204  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

me.     And  let  me  put  thy  armour  on  me;  so 
shall  the  Greeks  have  breathing-space  from  the 


war." 


So  he  spake,  entreating,  nor  knew  that  for 
his  own  doom  he  entreated.  And  Achilles 
made  reply :  — 

"It  is  no  warning  that  I  heed,  that  I  keep 
back  from  the  war.  But  these  men  took  from 
me  my  prize,  which  I  won  with  my  own  hands. 
But  let  the  past  be  past.  I  said  that  I  would 
not  rise  up  till  the  battle  should  come  nigh 
to  my  own  ships.  But  thou  mayest  put  my 
armour  upon  thee,  and  lead  my  Myrmidons  to 
the  fight.  For  in  truth  the  men  of  Troy  are 
gathered  as  a  dark  cloud  about  the  ships,  and 
the  Greeks  have  scarce  standing-ground  be- 
tween them  and  the  sea.  For  they  see  not  the 
gleam  of  my  helmet.  And  Diomed  is  not 
there  with  his  spear ;  nor  do  I  hear  the  voice 
of  Agamemnon,  but  only  the  voice  of  Hector, 
as  he  calls  the  men  of  Troy  to  the  battle.  Go, 
therefore,  Patroclus,  and  drive  the  fire  from 
the  ships.  And  then  come  thou  back,  nor 
fight  any  more  with  the  Trojans,  lest  thou 
take  my  glory  from  me.  And  go  not  near,  in 


DEEDS  AND  DEATH  OF  PATROCLUS.       205 

the  delight  of  battle,  to  the  walls  of  Troy,  lest 
one  of  the  gods  meet  thee  to  thy  hurt ;  and,  of 
a  truth,  the  keen  archer  Apollo  loves  the  Tro- 
jans well." 

But  as  they  talked  the  one  to  the  other,  Ajax 
could  hold  out  no  longer.  For  swords  and 
javelins  came  thick  upon  him,  and  clattered  on 
his  helmet,  and  his  shoulder  was  weary  with 
the  great  shield  which  he  held ;  and  he  breathed 
heavily  and  hard,  and  the  great  drops  of  sweat 
fell  upon  the  ground.  Then  at  the  last  Hector 
came  near  and  smote  his  spear  with  a  great 
sword,  so  that  the  head  fell  off.  Then  was 
Ajax  sore  afraid,  and  gave  way,  and  the  men 
of  Troy  set  torches  to  the  ship's  stem,  and  a 
great  flame  shot  up  to  the  sky.  And  Achilles 
saw  it,  and  smote  his  thigh  and  spake :  — 

"  Haste  thee,  Patroclus,  for  I  see  the  fire 
rising  up  from  the  ships.  Put  thou  on  the 
armour,  and  I  will  call  my  people  to  the  war." 

So  Patroclus  put  on  the  armour,  —  corselet, 
and  shield,  and  helmet,  —  and  bound  upon  his 
shoulder  the  silver-studded  sword,  and  took  a 
mighty  spear  in  his  hand.  But  the  great 
Pelian  spear  he  took  not,  for  that  no  man  but 


206  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

Achilles  might  wield.  Then  Automedon  yoked 
the  horses  to  the  chariot,  Bayard  and  Piebald, 
and  with  them  in  the  side  harness,  Pedasus  ; 
and  they  two  were  deathless  steeds,  but  he  was 
mortal. 

Meanwhile  Achilles  had  called  the  Myrmi- 
dons to  battle.  Fifty  ships  had  he  brought  to 
Troy,  and  in  each  there  were  fifty  men.  Five 
leaders  they  had,  and  the  bravest  of  the  five 
was  Pisander. 

Then  Achilles  said :  "  Forget  not,  ye  Myrmi- 
dons, the  bold  words  that  ye  spake  against  the 
men  of  Troy  during  the  days  of  my  wrath, 
making  complaint  that  I  kept  you  from  the 
battle  against  your  will.  Now,  therefore,  ye 
have  that  which  you  desired." 

So  the  Myrmidons  went  to  the  battle  in  close 
array,  helmet  to  helmet  and  shield  to  shield,  close 
as  the  stones  with  which  a  builder  builds  a  wall. 
And  in  front  went  Patroclus,  and  Automedon 
in  the  chariot  beside  him.  Then  Achilles  went 
to  his  tent  and  took  a  great  cup  from  the  chest, 
which  Thetis  his  mother  had  given  him.  Now 
no  man  drank  of  that  cup  but  he  only,  nor  did 
he  pour  out  of  it  libations  to  any  of  the  gods, 


'^Mttoty 

DEEDS  AND  DEATH  OF  PATROCLUS.       207 

but  only  to  Zeus.  This  first  he  cleansed  with 
sulphur,  and  then  with  water  from  the  spring. 
And  after  this  he  washed  his  hands,  and  stood 
in  the  midst  of  the  space  before  his  tent,  and 
poured  out  of  it  to  Zeus,  saying,  "  O  Zeus,  I 
send  my  comrade  to  this  battle  ;  make  him 
strong  and  bold,  and  give  him  glory,  and  bring 
him  home  safe  to  the  ships,  and  my  people 
with  him." 

So  he  prayed,  and  Father  Zeus  heard  him, 
and  part  he  granted  and  part  denied. 

But  now  Patroclus  with  the  Myrmidons  had 
come  to  where  the  battle  was  raging  about  the 
ship  of  Protesilalis,  andjwhen  the  men  of  Troy 
beheld  him,  they  thought  that  Achilles  had 
forgotten  his  wrath  and  was  come  forth  to 
the  war.  And  first  Patroclus  slew  Pyraechmes, 
who  was  the  chief  of  the  Paeonians  who  live 
on  the  banks  of  the  broad  Axius.  Then  the 
men  of  Troy  turned  to  flee,  and  many  chiefs 
of  fame  fell  by  the  spears  of  the  Greeks.  So 
the  battle  rolled  back  to  the  trench,  and  in 
the  trench  many  chariots  of  the  Trojans  were 
broken,  but  the  horses  of  Achilles  went  across 
it  at  a  stride,  so  nimble  were  they  and  strong. 


,,oU 

208  7^?  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

And  the  heart  of  Patroclus  was  set  to  slay 
Hector;  but  he  could  not  overtake  him,  so 
swift  were  his  horses.  Then  did  Patroclus 
turn  his  chariot,  and  keep  back  those  that  fled, 
that  they  should  not  go  to  the  city,  and  rushed 
hither  and  thither,  still  slaying  as  he  went. 

But  Sarpedon,  when  he  saw  the  Lycians 
dismayed  and  scattered,  called  to  them  that 
they  should  be  of  good  courage,  saying  that  he 
would  himself  make  trial  of  this  great  warrior. 
So  he  leapt  down  from  his  chariot,  and  Patro- 
clus also  leapt  down,  and  they  rushed  at  each 
other  as  two  eagles  rush  together.  Then  first 
Patroclus  struck  down  Thrasymelus,  who  was 
the  comrade  of  Sarpedon ;  and  Sarpedon,  who 
had  a  spear  in  either  hand,  with  the  one  struck 
the  horse  Pedasus,  which  was  of  mortal  breed, 
on  the  right  shoulder,  and  with  the  other 
missed  his  aim,  sr  nding  it  over  the  left  shoul- 
der of  Patroclus.  But  Patroclus  missed  not 
his  aim,  driving  his  spear  into  Sarpedon's 
heart.  Then  fell  the  great  Lycian  chief,  as 
an  oak,  or  a  poplar,  or  a  pine  falls  upon  the 
hills  before  the  axe.  But  he  called  -to  Glau- 
cus,  his  companion,  saying :  "Now  must  thou 


DEEDS  AND   DEATH  OF  PATROCLUS.       209 

show  thyself  a  good  warrior,  Glaucus.  First 
call  the  men  of  Lycia  to  fight  for  me,  and  do 
thou  fight  thyself,  for  it  would  be  foul  shame 
to  thee,  all  thy  days,  if  the  Greeks  should  spoil 
me  of  my  arms." 

Then  he  died.  But  Glaucus  was  sore  trou- 
bled, for  he  could  not  help  him,  so  grievous 
was  the  wound  where  Teucer  had  wounded 
him.  Therefore  he  prayed  to  Apollo,  and 
Apollo  helped  him  and  made  him  whole. 
Then  he  went  first  to  the  Lycians,  bidding 
them  fight  for  their  King,  and  then  to  the 
chiefs  of  the  Trojans,  that  they  should  save 
the  body  of  Sarpedon.  And  to  Hector  he 
said :  "  Little  carest  thou  for  thy  allies.  Lo ! 
Sarpedon  is  dead,  slain  by  Patroclus.  Suffer 
not  the  Myrmidons  to  carry  him  off  and  do 
dishonour  to  his  body." 

But  Hector  was  troubled  to  hear  such  news, 
and  so  were  all  the  sons  of  Troy,  for  Sarpedon 
was  the  bravest  of  the  allies,  and  led  most 
people  to  the  battle.  So  with  a  great  shout 
they  charged,  and  drove  the  Greeks  back  a 
space  from  the  body;  and  then  again  the 
Greeks  did  the  like.  And  so  the  battle  raged, 

o 


fua  >P(#n  / 
) 

210  77/jE1  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

till  no  one  would  have  known  the  great  Sarpe- 
don,  so  covered  was  he  with  spears  and  blood 
and  dust.  But  at  the  last  the  Greeks  drave 
back  the  men  of  Troy  from  the  body,  and 
stripped  the  arms,  but  the  body  itself  they 
harmed  not.  For  Apollo  came  down  at  the 
bidding  of  Zeus  and  carried  it  out  of  the  midst 
of  the  battle,  and  washed  it  with  water,  and 
anointed  it  with  ambrosia,  and  wrapped  it  in 
garments  of  the  gods.  And  then  he  gave  it 
to  Sleep  and  Death,  and  these  two  carried  it  to 
Lycia,  his  fatherland. 

Then  did  Patroclus  forget  the  word  which 
Achilles  had  spoken  to  him,  that  he  should 
not  go  near  to  Troy,  for  he  pursued  the  men 
of  the  city  even  to  the  wall.  Thrice  he 
mounted  on  the  angle  of  the  wall,  and  thrice 
Apollo  himself  drove  him  back,  pushing  his 
shining  shield.  But  the  fourth  time  the  god 
said  :  "  Go  thou  back,  Patroclus.  It  is  not  for 
thee  to  take  the  city  of  Troy ;  no,  nor  for 
Achilles,  who  is  far  better  than  thou  art." 

So  Patroclus  went  back,  fearing  the  wrath 
of  the  archer  god.  Then  Apollo  stirred  up 
the  spirit  of  Hector,  that  he  should  go  against 


y  MftXl  (AW  j    vu-  y.  :>  v- 

fe^k^  \^cmz\ 

o^  t 

DEEDS  AND  DEATH  OF  PATROCLUS.       211 

Patroclus.  Therefore  he  went,  with  his 
brother  Cebriones  for  driver  of  his  chariot. 
But  when  they  came  near,  Patroclus  cast  a 
great  stone  which  he  had  in  his  hand,  and 
smote  Cebriones  on  the  forehead,  crushing  it 
in,  so  that  he  fell  headlong  from  the  chariot. 
And  Patroclus  mocked  him,  saying:  — 

"  How  nimble  is  this  man !  how  lightly  he 
dives !  What  spoil  he  would  take  of  oysters, 
diving  from  a  ship,  even  in  a  stormy  sea! 
Who  would  have  thought  that  there  were  such 
skilful  divers  in  Troy !  " 

Then  again  the  battle  waxed  hot  about  the 
body  of  Cebriones,  and  this  too,  at  the  last,  the  Qj\ 
Greeks  drew  unto  themselves,  and  spoiled  it  of '  \\c\ 
the  arms.     And  this  being  accomplished,  Pa- 
troclus   rushed    against    the    men    of     Troy. 
Thrice  he  rushed,  and  each  time  he  slew  nine 
chiefs  of   fame.     But   the  fourth    time  Apollo  ^\(^ 
stood  behind  him  and  struck  him  on  the  head  4. 
and  shoulders,  so  that  his  eyes  were  darkened. 
And  the  helmet  fell  from  off  his  head,  so  that     jji 
the  horse-hair  plumes  were  soiled  with   dust. 
Never  before  had  it  touched  the  ground,  for  it 
was  the  helmet  of  Achilles.     And  also  the  god  " 

O 


f^r  rA 

}w^   \l; 

212  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

brake  the  spear  in  his  hand,  and  struck  the  .-.u£ 
shield  from  his  arms,  and  loosed  his  corselet. 
All  amazed  he  stood,  and  then  Euphorbus, 
son  of  Panthoiis,  smote  him  on  the  back  with 
his  spear,  but  slew  him  not.  Then  Patroclus 
sought  to  flee  to  the  ranks  of  his  comrades. 
But  Hector  saw  him,  and  thrust  at  him  with  his 
spear,  smiting  him  in  the  groin,  so  that  he  fell. 
And  when  the  Greeks  saw  him  fall,  they  sent 
up  a  terrible  cry.  Then  Hector  stood  over 
him  and  cried  :  — 

"Didst  thou  think  to  spoil  our  city,  Patro- 
clus, and  to  carry  away  our  wives  and  daugh- 
ters in  the  ships  ?  But  lo !  I  have  slain^thee, 
and  the  fowls  of  the  air  shall  eat  thy  flesh ;  nor 
shall  the  great  Achilles  help  thee  at  all  — 
Achilles,  who  bade  thee,  I  trow,  strip  the 
tunic  from  my  breast,  and  thou  thoughtest  in 
thy  folly  to  do  it." 

But  Patroclus  answered :  "  Thou  boasteth 
much,  Hector.  Yet  thou  didst  not  slay  me,  but 
Apollo,  who  took  from  me  my  arms,  for  had 
twenty  such  as  thou  met  me,  I  had  slain  them 
all.  And  mark  thou  this:  death  and  fate  are 
close  to  thee  by  the  hand  of  the  great  Achilles." 


DEEDS  AND  DEATH  OF  PATROCLUS.       213 

And  Hector  answered,  but  Patroclus  was 
dead  already :  "  Why  dost  thou  prophesy  death 
to  me  ?  May  be  the  great  Achilles  himself 
shall  fall  by  my  hand." 

Then  he  drew  his  spear  from  the  wound, 
and  went  after  Automedon,  to  slay  him,  but 
the  swift  horses  of  Achilles  carried  him  away. 


214  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

THE    ROUSING    OF    ACHILLES. 

FIERCE  was  the  fight  about  the  body  of 
Patroclus,  and  many  heroes  fell,  both  on  this 
side  and  on  that,  and  first  of  them  all  Euphor- 
bus,  who  first  had  wounded  him.  For  as  he 
came  near  to  strip  the  dead  man  of  his  arms, 
Menelaiis  slew  him  with  his  spear.  He  slew 
him,  but  took  not  his  arms,  for  Hector  came 
through  the  battle ;  nor  did  Menelaiis  dare  to 
abide  his  coming,  but  went  back  into  the  ranks 
of  his  own  people.  Then  did  Hector  strip  off 
the  arms  of  Patroclus,  the  arms  which  the 
great  Achilles  had  given  him  to  wear.  Then 
he  laid  hold  of  the  body,  and  would  have 
"dragged  it  into  the  host  of  the  Trojans,  but 
Ajax  Telamon  came  forth,  and  put  his  broad 
shield  before  it,  as  a  lion  stands  before  its  cubs 
when  the  hunters  meet  it  in  the  woods,  draw- 
ing down  over  its  eyes  its  shaggy  brows. 


THE  ROUSING   OF  ACHILLES.  215 

Then    Hector  gave   place,   but    Glaucus   saw 
him,  and  said:  — 

""""Now  is  this  a  shame  to  thee,  that  thou 
darest  not  to  stand  against  Ajax.  How  wilt 
thou  and  thy  countrymen  save  the  city  of 
Troy?  For  surely  no  more  will  thy  allies 
fight  for  it.  Small  profit  have  they  of  thee. 
Did  not  Sarpedon  fall,  and  didst  thou  not 
leave  him  to  be  a  prey  to  the  dogs  ?  And 
now,  if  thou  hadst  stood  firm  and  carried  off 
Patroclus,  we  might  have  made  exchange,  and 
gained  from  the  Greeks  Sarpedon  and  his 
arms.  But  it  may  not  be,  for  thou  fearest 
Ajax,  and  fleest  before  him." 

But  Hector  said :  "  I  fear  him  not,  nor  any 
man.  Only  Zeus  giveth  victory  now  to  one 
man  and  now  to  another.  But  wait  thou  here, 
and  see  whether  I  be  a  coward,  as  thou  sayest." 

Now  he  had  sent  the  armour  of  Patroclus 
to  the  city.  But  now  he  ran  after  those  that 
were  carrying  it,  and  overtook  them,  and  put 
on  the  armour  himself  (but  Zeus  saw  him 
doing  it,  and  liked  it  not),  and  came  back  to 
the  battle ;  and  all  who  saw  him  thought  that 
it  had  been  the  great  Achilles  himself.  Then 


v 

n£AS 

2l6  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

they  all  charged  together,  and  fiercer  grew  the 
battle  and  fiercer  as  the  day  went  on.  For 
the  Greeks  said  one  to  another :  "  Now  had 
the  earth  better  yawn  and  swallow  us  up  alive, 
than  we  should  let  the  men  of  Troy  carry  off 
Patroclus  to  their  city  " ;  and  the  Trojans  said : 
"  Now  if  we  must  all  fall  by  the  body  of  this 
man,  be  it  so,  but  we  will  not  yield."  But  the 
horses  of  Achilles  stood  apart  from  the  battle, 
when  they  knew  that  Patroclus  was  dead, 
and  wept.  Nor  could  Automedon  move  them 
with  the  lash,  nor  with  gentle  words,  nor  with 
threats.  They  would  not  return  to  the  ships, 
nor  would  they  go  into  the  battle;  but  as  a 
pillar  stands  on  the  tomb  of  some  dead  man, 
so  they  stood,  with  their  heads  drooped  to 
the  ground,  and  with  big  tears  dropping  to 
the  earth,  and  their  long  manes  trailing  in  the 
dust. 

But  Father  Zeus  beheld  them,  and  pitied 
them,  and  said  :  — 

"  It  was  not  well  that  we  gave  you,  immortal 
as  ye  are,  to  a  mortal  man ;  for  of  all  things 
that  move  on  earth,  mortal  man  is  the  fullest 
of  sorrow.  But  Hector  shall  not  possess  you. 


THE  ROUSING   OF  ACHILLES.  21? 

It  is  enough  for  him,  yea,  and  too  much,  that 
he  hath  the  arms  of  Achilles." 

Then  did  the  horses  move  from  their  place, 
and  obey  their  charioteer  as  before.  Nor  could 
Hector  take  them,  though  he  desired  them 
very  much.  And  all  the  while  the  battle  raged 
about  the  dead  Patroclus.  And  at  last  Ajax 
said  to  Menelaiis  (now  these  two  had  borne 
themselves  more  bravely  in  the  fight  than  all 
others) :  — 

"  See  if  thou  canst  find  Antilochus,  Nestor's 
son,  that  he  may  carry  the  tidings  to  Achilles, 
how  that  Patroclus  is  dead." 

So  Menelaiis  went  and  found  Antilochus  on 
the  left  of  the  battle,  and  said  to  him :  "  I  have 
ill  news  for  thee.  Thou  seest  that  the  men  of 
Troy  have  the  victory  to-day.  And  also  Patro- 
clus lies  dead.  Run,  therefore,  to  Achilles,  and 
tell  him,  if  haply  he  may  save  the  body ;  but  as 
for  the  arms,  Hector  has  them  already." 

Sore  dismayed  was  Antilochus  to  hear  such 
tidings,  and  his  eyes  were  filled  with  tears,  and 
his  voice  was  choked.  Yet  did  he  give  heed 
to  the  words  of  Menelaiis,  and  ran  to  tell 
Achilles  of  what  had  chanced.  But  Menelaiis 


<—   — r:  i      j\  •.  <-\\fs-tf- 


2l8  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

went  back  to  Ajax,  where  he  had  left  him  by 
Patroclus,  and  said :  — 

"  Antilochus,  indeed,  bears  the  tidings  to 
Achilles.  Yet  I  doubt  whether  he  will  come, 
for  all  his  wrath  against  Hector,  seeing  that  he 
has  no  armour  to  cover  him.  Let  us  think, 
then,  how  we  may  best  carry  Patroclus  away 
from  the  men  of  Troy." 

Then  said  Ajax,  u  Do  thou  and  Meriones 
run  forward  and  raise  the  body  in  your  arms, 
and  I  and  the  son  of  Oileus  will  keep  off,  mean- 
while, the  men  of  Troy." 

So  Menelaiis  and  Meriones  ran  forward  and 
lifted  up  the  body.  And  the  Trojans  ran  for- 
ward with  a  great  shout  when  they  saw  them, 
as  dogs  run  barking  before  the  hunters  when 
they  chase  a  wild  boar ;  but  when  the  beast 
turns  to  bay,  then  they  flee  this  way  and  that. 
So  did  the  men  of  Troy  flee  when  Ajax  the 
Greater  and  Ajax  the  Less  turned  to  give 
battle.  But  still  the  Greeks "  gave  way,  and 
still  the  Trojans  came  on,  and  ever  in  the  front 
were  Hector,  the  son  of  Priam,  and  yEneas,  the 
son  of  Anchises.  But  in  the  meantime  Anti- 
lochus came  near  to  Achilles,  who,  indeed, 


llot 

THE  ROUSING   OF  ACHILLES.  219 

seeing  that  the  Greeks  fled  and  the  men  of 
Troy  pursued,  was  already  sore  afraid.  And 
he  said,  weeping  as  he  spake :  — 

"  I  bring  ill  news, —  Patroclus  lies  low.     The 
Greeks  fight  for  his  body,  but  Hector  has  his 


arms." 


Then  Achilles  took  of  the  dust  of  the  plain 
in  his  hand,  and  poured  it  on  his  head,  and  lay 
at  his  length  upon  the  ground,  and  tare  his  hair. 
And  all  the  women  wailed.  And  Antilochus 
sat  weeping ;  but  ever  he  held  the  hands  of 
Achilles,  lest  he  should  slay  himself  in  his  great 
grief. 

Then  came  his  mother,  hearing  his  cry,  from 
where  she  sat  in  the  depths  of  the  sea,  and  laid 
her  hand  on  him  and  said :  — 

"  Why  weepest  thou,  my  son  ?  Hide  not  the 
matter  from  me,  but  tell  me." 

And  Achilles  answered:  "All  that  Zeus 
promised  thee  for  me  he  hath  fulfilled.  But 
what  profit  have  I,  for  my  friend  Patroclus  is 
dead,  and  Hector  has  the  arms  which  I  gave 
him  to  wear.  And  as  for  me,  I  care  not  to 
live,  except  I  can  avenge  me  upon  him." 

Then  said  Thetis  :  "  Nay,  my  son,  speak  not 


I  CQ, 

la 

220  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 


thus.     For  when   Hector  dieth,  thy  doom  also 


is  near." 


And  Achilles  spake  in  great  wrath :  "  Would 
that  I  might  die  this  hour,  seeing  that  I  could 
not  help  my  friend,  but  am  a  burden  on  the 
earth  —  I,  who  am  better  in  battle  than  all  the 
Greeks  besides.  Cursed  be  the  wrath  that  sets 
men  to  strive  the  one  with  the  other,  even  as 
it  set  me  to  strive  with  King  Agamemnon ! 
But  let  the  past  be  past.  And  as  for  my  fate 
—  let  it  come  when  it  may,  so  that  I  first 
avenge  myself  on  Hector.  Wherefore,  seek 
not  to  keep  me  back  from  the  battle." 

Then  Thetis  said:  "  Be  it  so;  only  thou 
canst  not  go  without  thy  arms,  which  Hector 
hath.  But  to-morrow  will  I  go  to  Hephaestus, 
that  he  may  furnish  thee  anew." 

But  while  they  talked  the  men  of  Troy 
pressed  the  Greeks  more  and  more,  and  the 
two  heroes,  Ajax  the  Greater  and  Ajax  the 
Less,  could  no  longer  keep  Hector  back, 
but  that  he  should  lay  hold  of  the  body  of 
Patroclus.  And  indeed  he  would  have  taken 
it,  but  that  Zeus  sent  Iris  to  Achilles,  who 
said :  — 


THE  ROUSING   OF  ACHILLES.  221 

"  Rouse  thee,  son  of  Peleus,  or  Patroclus  will 
be  a  prey  for  the  dogs  of  Troy!  " 

But  Achilles  said:  "  How  shall  I  go?  —  for 
arms  have  I  none,  nor  know  I  whose  I  might 
wear.  Haply  I  could  shift  with  the  shield  of 
Ajax,  son  of  Telamon,  but  he,  I  know,  is  carry- 
ing it  in  the  front  of  the  battle." 

Then  answered  Iris,  "  Go  only  to  the  trench 
and  show  thyself ;  so  shall  the  men  of  Troy 
tremble  and  cease  from  the  battle,  and  the 
Greeks  shall  have  breathing-space." 

So  he  went,  and  Athene  put  her  aegis  about 
his  mighty  shoulders,  and  a  golden  halo  about 
his  head,  making  it  shine  as  a  flame  of  fire, 
even  as  the  watch-fires  shine  at  night  from 
some  city  that  is  besieged.  Then  went  he  to 
the  trench ;  with  the  battle  he  mingled  not, 
heeding  his  mother's  commands,  but  he 
shouted  aloud,  and  his  voice  was  as  the 
sound  of  a  trumpet.  And  when  the  men  of 
Troy  heard,  they  were  stricken  with  fear,  and 
the  horses  backed  with  the  chariots,  and  the 
drivers  were  astonished  when  they  saw  the 
flaming  fire  above  his  head  which  Athene 
had  kindled.  Thrice  across  the  trench  the 


~ 

Stfs  - 

222  777^  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

great  Achilles  shouted,  and  thrice  the  men  of 
Troy  fell  back.  And  that  hour  there  perished 
twelve  chiefs  of  fame,  wounded  by  their  own 
spears  or  trampled  by  their  own  steeds,  so  great 
was  the  terror  among  the  men  of  Troy. 

Right  gladly  did  the  Greeks  take  Patroclus 
out  of  the  press.  Then  they  laid  him  on  a  bier, 
and  carried  him  to  the  tent,  Achilles  walking 
with  many  tears  by  his  side. 

But  on  the  other  side  the  men  of  Troy  held 
an  assembly.  Standing  they  held  it,  for  none 
dared  to  sit,  lest  Achilles  should  be  upon  them. 

Then  spake  Polydamas :  "  Let  us  not  wait 
here  for  the  morning.  It  was  well  for  us  to 
fight  at  the  ships  while  Achilles  yet  kept  his 
wrath  against  Agamemnon.  But  now  it  is  not 
so.  For  to-morrow  he  will  come  against  us  in 
his  anger,  and  many  will  fall  before  him. 
Wherefore,  let  us  go  back  to  the  city,  for  high 
are  the  walls  and  strong  the  gates,  and  he  will 
perish  before  he  pass  them." 

Then  said  Hector :  "  This  is  ill  counsel,  Poly- 
damas. Shall  we  shut  ourselves  up  in  the  city, 
where  all  our  goods  are  wasted  already,  buying 
meat  for  the  people  ?  Nay,  let  us  watch  to-night, 


THE  ROUSING   OF  ACHILLES.  22$ 

and  to-morrow  will  we  fight  with  the  Greeks. 
And  if  Achilles  be  indeed  come  forth  from  his 
tent,  be  it  so.  I  will  not  shun  to  meet  him,  for 
Ares  gives  the  victory  now  to  one  man  and  now 
to  another." 

So  he  spake,  and  all  the  people  applauded, 
foolish,  not  knowing  what  the  morrow  should 
bring  forth. 


224  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 


CHAPTER   XX. 

THE    MAKING    OF    THE    ARMS. 

MEANWHILE  in  the  camp  of  the  Greeks  they 
mourned  for  Patroclus.  And  Achilles  stood 
among  his  Myrmidons  and  said  :  — 

"  Vain  was  the  promise  that  I  made  to  Menoe- 
tius  that  I  would  bring  back  his  son  with  his 
portion  of  the  spoils  of  Troy.  But  Zeus  fulfils 
not  the  thoughts  of  man.  For  he  lies  dead,  nor 
shall  I  return  to  the  house  of  Peleus,  my  father, 
for  I,  too,  must  die  in  this  land.  But  thee,  O 
Patroclus,  I  will  not  bury  till  I  bring  hither  the 
head  and  the  arms  of  Hector,  and  twelve  men 
of  Troy  to  slay  at  thy  funeral  pile." 

So  they  washed  the  body  of  Patroclus  and 
anointed  it,  putting  ointment  nine  years  old 
into  the  wounds,  and  laid  it  on  a  bed,  and 
covered  it  with  a  linen  cloth  from  the  head  to 
the  feet,  and  laid  a  white  robe  over  it.  All 
night  the  Myrmidons  mourned  for  Patroclus 
dead  ;  and  Zeus  spake  to  Hera,  saying  :  — 


THE  MAKING   OF  THE  ARMS.  22$ 

"  So  thou  hast  had  thy  will,  and  hast  roused 
Achilles,  the  swift  of  foot.  Truly  thou  art  as  a 
mother  to  the  Greeks  !  " 

And  Hera  answered :  "  Will  not  a  man 
make  good  his  word  to  his  fellow,  though  he 
be  but  a  man  ?  Then  how  should  I,  who  am 
chief  among  the  goddesses,  not  send  trouble 
on  the  Trojans,  against  whom  I  have  great 
wrath  ?  " 

But  Thetis  went  to  the  house  of  Hephaestus. 
She  found  him  busy  at  his  work,  making  twenty 
cauldrons  with  three  feet,  that  were  to  stand 
about  the  house  of  the  gods.  Golden  wheels 
had  they  beneath,  that  they  might  go  of  their 
own  motion  into  the  chambers  of  the  gods,  and 
of  their  own  motion  return.  But  Charis,  which 
is  by  interpretation  Grace,  that  was  wife  to 
Hephaestus,  espied  Thetis,  and  caught  her  by 
the  hands,  and  said,  "  Why,  goddess,  whom  we 
love  and  honour,  comest  thou  to  our  house, 
though  thou  art  not  wont  so  to  do  ?  " 

So  spake  she,  and  led  her  in,  and  set  her  on 
a  silver-studded  chair,  and  put  a  chair  beneath 
her  feet.  Then  she  called  to  her  husband, 
saying ;  — - 

p 


226  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

"  Come  quick.  Thetis  would  have  some- 
what of  thee." 

And  he  said :  "  Verily,  there  is  one  in  my 
house  that  was  my  saviour  in  the  day  of 
trouble ;  for  my  mother  cast  me  out  because 
I  was  lame,  but  Thetis  and  her  sister  received 
me  in  the  sea.  Nine  years  I  dwelt  with  them, 
and  hammered  many  a  trinket  in  a  hollow 
cave.  Verily,  I  would  pay  the  price  of  my 
life  for  Thetis." 

Then  he  put  away  his  tools,  and  washed 
himself,  and  took  a  staff  in  his  hand,  and  came 
into  the  house,  and  sat  upon  a  chair,  and  said : 
"  Speak  all  thy  mind.  I  will  do  thy  pleasure, 
if  it  can  be  done." 

Then  did  Thetis  tell  him  of  her  son  Achil- 
les, and  of  the  wrong  that  had  been  done  to 
him,  and  of  his  wrath,  and  of  how  Patroclus 
was  dead,  and  that  the  arms  that  he  had  had 
were  lost. 

"  Make  me  now,"  she  said,  "for  him  a  shield 
and  a  helmet,  and  greaves,  and  a  corselet." 

And  Hephaestus  answered :  "  Be  of  good 
cheer.  Would  that  I  could  keep  from  him  the 
doom  of  death  as  easily  as  I  can  make  him 


THE  MAKING   OF  THE  ARMS.  227 

such  arms  that  a  man  will  wonder  when  he 
looks  upon  them." 

Then  he  went  to  his  smithy,  and  turned  the 
bellows  to  the  fire,  and  bade  them  work.  Also 
he  put  bronze  and  tin  and  gold  and  silver  into 
the  fire,  to  melt  them,  and  set  the  anvil,  and 
took  the  hammer  in  one  hand,  and  the  tongs 
in  the  other. 

First  he  made  a  shield,  great  and  strong, 
and  fastened  thereto  a  belt  of  silver.  On  it  he 
wrought  the  earth,  and  the  sky,  and  the  sea, 
and  the  sun,  and  the  moon,  and  all  the  stars. 
He  wrought  also  two  cities.  In  the  one  there 
was  peace,  and  about  the  other  there  was  war. 
For  in  the  first  they  led  a  bride  to  her  home 
with  music  and  dancing,  and  the  women  stood 
in  the  doors  to  see  the  show,  and  in  the  market- 
place the  judges  judged  about  one  that  had 
been  slain,  and  one  man  said  that  he  had  paid 
the  price  of  blood,  and  the  other  denied.  But 
about  the  other  city  there  sat  an  army  besieg- 
ing it,  and  the  men  of  the  city  stood  upon  the 
wall  defending  it.  These  had  also  set  an 
ambush  by  a  river  where  the  herds  were  wont 
to  drink.  And  when  the  herds  came  down, 


228  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

they  rose  up  and  took  them  and  slew  the  herds- 
men. But  the  army  of  the  besiegers  heard  the 
cry,  and  came  swiftly  on  horses,  and  fought  by 
the  bank  of  the  river.  Also  he  wrought  one 
field  where  many  men  drove  the  plough,  and 
another  where  reapers  reaped  the  corn,  and 
boys  gathered  it  in  their  arms  to  bind  into 
sheaves,  while  the  lord  stood  glad  at  heart, 
beholding  them.  Also  he  wrought  a  vineyard, 
wherein  was  a  path,  and  youths  and  maidens 
bearing  baskets  of  grapes,  and  in  the  midst  a 
boy  played  on  a  harp  of  gold  and  sang  a  pleas- 
ant song.  Also  he  made  a  herd  of  oxen  going 
from  the  stables  to  the  pastures,  and  herdsmen 
and  dogs,  and  in  the  front  two  lions  had  caught 
a  mighty  bull  and  were  devouring  it,  while  the 
dogs  stood  far  off  and  barked.  Also  he  made 
a  sheepfold ;  also  a  marvellous  dance  of  men 
and  maidens,  and  these  had  coronets  of  gold, 
and  those  daggers  of  gold  hanging  from  belts 
of  silver.  And  round  about  the  shield  he 
wrought  the  great  river  of  ocean. 

Besides  the  shield,  he  also  made  a  corselet 
brighter  than  fire,  and  a  great  helmet  with  a 
ridge  of  gold  for  the  crest,  and  greaves  of  tin. 


THE  MAKING   OF  THE  ARMS.  229 

And  when  he  had  finished  all  the  armour,  he 
set  them  before  the  mother  of  Achilles.  Like 
to  a  hawk  did  she  leap  from  Olympus,  carrying 
them  to  her  son.  And  when  she  came  to  the 
ships,  she  found  him  lying  on  the  earth  with 
his  arms  about  the  body  of  Patroclus,  weeping 
aloud,  and  his  men  stood  about  lamenting. 

The  goddess  stood  in  the  midst,  and  clasped 
her  son  by  the  hand,  and  spake :  "  Come,  now, 
let  us  leave  the  dead  man;  for  he  hath  been 
slain  according  to  the  ordering  of  the  gods. 
And  do  thou  receive  from  Hephaestus  this 
armour,  exceeding  beautiful,  such  as  man 
never  yet  wore  upon  his  shoulders." 

So  she  spake,  and  cast  the  armour  before 
Achilles.  Loud  did  it  rattle  as  it  fell,  and  the 
Myrmidons  feared  to  look  upon  the  sight. 
But  Achilles  took  the  splendid  armour  into 
his  hand,  and  was  glad,  and  spake,  saying: 
"  Mother,  the  gods  have  given  me  arms,  such 
as  it  is  fitting  should  be  made  in  heaven,  and 
I  vow  I  will  arm  me  for  the  fight.  Yet  much  I 
fear  that  decay  will  mar  the  body  of  Patroclus, 
now  that  the  life  hath  gone  from  out  of  it." 

But    Thetis   made    answer :    "  Let   not   this 


230  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

trouble  thee ;  I  will  keep  decay  from  his  flesh, 
yea,  though  he  should  lie  here  till  the  year 
come  round  again.  Go,  then,  and  call  the 
people  to  the  assembly,  and  put  away  thy 
wrath  against  King  Agamemnon,  and  arm 
thyself  for  the  battle." 

So  she  spake,  putting  trust  and  valour  into 
his  soul ;  and  into  the  nostrils  of  the  dead  man 
she  poured  ambrosia  and  ruddy  nectar,  that 
his  flesh  might  be  sweet. 


THE  ENDING   OF  THE  STRIFE.  23  I 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

THE    ENDING   OF    THE    STRIFE. 

ACHILLES  went  along  the  shore  of  the  sea, 
shouting  aloud  to  the  warriors.  And  at  his 
call  they  came,  even  they  who  before  had 
remained  at  the  ships,  as  the  pilots  and  they 
who  dealt  out  the  food,  because  Achilles,  who 
had  been  absent  so  long  from  the  battle,  had 
returned  thereto.  Also  Diomed  and  Ulysses 
came  to  the  assembly,  leaning  on  spears,  for 
their  wounds  were  fresh,  and  King  Aga- 
memnon. 

Then  Achilles  stood  up,  and  spake :  "  It  was 
ill  done,  son  of  Atreus,  that  we  strove  for  a 
woman !  Would  that  Artemis  had  slain  her 
with  an  arrow  on  the  day  when  I  took  her  cap- 
tive !  Many  a  Greek  who  hath  now  bitten  the 
ground  had  then  lived,  and  the  Trojans  had 
not  reaped  such  profit  from  our  wrath.  But 
come,  let  the  past  be  past.  Here  I  make  an 
end  of  my  anger.  And  now  make  haste,  and 


232  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

send  the  Greeks  to  battle.  Let  us  see  whether 
the  men  of  Troy  will  camp  beside  the  ships." 

Then  said  Agamemnon,  speaking  from  his 
place :  "  Listen,  ye  Greeks.  Oft  have  ye  blamed 
me  for  this  quarrel.  Yet  it  was  not  I  that  was 
in  fault ;  rather  it  was  Zeus  and  Fate,  and  the 
Fury  that  walketh  in  darkness.  But  to  thee, 
Achilles,  I  make  full  amends,  for  here  I  offer 
thee  the  gifts  which  Ulysses  promised  thee 
yesterday.  Stay  awhile,  while  my  people  bring 
them  from  my  ships." 

To  him  Achilles  made  answer  :  "  Give  thy 
gifts,  O  King,  if  it  be  thy  will,  or  keep  them 
to  thyself.  But  let  us  turn  without  delay  to 
the  battle." 

Then  spake  the  wise  Ulysses:  "Achilles, 
urge  not  the  Greeks  to  enter  fasting  into  the 
battle :  for  verily  the  strife  will  not  be  short, 
seeing  that  both  this  host  and  that  are  inspired 
with  might  from  heaven.  A  man  that  hath  not 
eaten  cannot  fight  till  set  of  sun,  for  his  limbs 
grow  heavy  unawares,  and  he  is  hindered  by 
hunger  and  thirst.  Bid,  therefore,  the  people 
disperse,  and  make  ready  their  food.  Mean- 
while, let  King  Agamemnon  send  for  the  gifts 


THE  ENDING   OF  THE  STRIFE.  233 

and  deliver  them  to  thee  in  full  assembly. 
And  afterwards  let  him  furnish  a  feast  of  rec- 
onciliation, that  so  thou  mayest  miss  nothing 
of  thy  due." 

Then  said  the  King:  "  Thou  speakest  well, 
Ulysses.  Do  thou  thyself  fetch  the  gifts,  and 
let  the  herald  fetch  us  a  boar,  that  we  may  do 
sacrifice  to  Zeus  and  to  the  Sun." 

But  Achilles  said :  "  This  business  had  suited 
better  some  other  time,  as  when  there  was  some 
breathing-space  in  the  war,  and  my  heart  was 
not  so  hot  within  me.  But  now  the  dead  whom 
Hector  slewr  lieth  low,  and  ye  bid  me  think  of 
food.  Let  the  Greeks  enter  fasting  into  battle, 
and  make  them  a  great  supper  when  the  sun 
goes  down.  As  for  me,  neither  food  nor  drink 
shall  pass  my  lips." 

To  him  Ulysses  made  reply :  "  Thou  art  the 
stronger,  son  of  Peleus,  yet  I  may  be  the  wiser, 
for  I  am  older  than  thou,  and  of  more  experi- 
ence. Ask  not  the  Greeks  to  fast  because  of 
the  dead.  Verily  they  fall  every  day.  How, 
then,  should  there  be  any  interval  of  grief? 
Rather  let  us  bury  him  that  dieth,  and  bewail 
him  for  a  day,  and  harden  our  hearts  to  forget : 


234  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

and  then  let  us  who  are  left  eat  and  drink,  that 
we  may  fight  with  better  heart." 

Then  did  Ulysses  go  to  the  tent  of  the  King ; 
and  they  brought  thence  the  gifts,  seven  tri- 
pods, and  twenty  caldrons,  and  twelve  horses, 
and  seven  women,  skilled  workers  with  the 
needle,  and  the  fair  BriseTs  the  eighth.  And 
before  them  came  Ulysses,  bearing  the  talents 
of  gold,  full  weight  of  the  balance. 

These  the  Myrmidons  took  to  the  tent  of 
Achilles.  But  when  Brisei's  saw  Patroclus,  she 
beat  her  breast  and  her  fair  face  and  neck,  and 
wailed  aloud,  for  he  had  been  gentle  and  good, 
she  said.  And  all  the  women  wailed  with  her, 
thinking  each  of  her  own  sorrows. 

Then  the  chiefs  would  have  Achilles  feast 
with  them ;  but  he  hearkened  not,  for  he  would 
neither  eat  nor  drink  till  he  had  had  vengeance 
for  the  dead.  And  he  spake,  saying :  "  Often, 
Patroclus,  hast  thou  ordered  the  feast  when  we 
were  hastening  to  the  war.  And  now  thou 
liest  slain,  and  for  grief  for  thee  I  cannot  eat 
nor  drink.  For  greater  sorrow  could  not  have 
come  to  me,  not  though  Peleus  himself  were 
dead,  or  my  young  son  Neoptolemus.  Often 


THE  ENDING    OF  THE  STRIFE.  235 

did  I  think  that  I  only  should  perish  here,  but 
that  thou  shouldst  return  and  show  my  son  all 
that  was  mine,  goods  and  servants  and  palace." 

And  as  he  wept,  the  old  men  wept  with  him, 
thinking  each  of  what  he  had  left  at  home. 

But  Zeus  said  to  Athene :  "  Carest  thou  not 
for  Achilles  that  is  so  dear  to  thee  ?  See,  the 
other  Greeks  are  gone  to  their  meal,  but  he  sits 
fasting." 

Then  Athene  leapt  down  from  heaven,  and 
shed  into  the  breast  of  Achilles  nectar  and 
ambrosia,  that  his  knees  should  not  fail  from 
hunger. 

Meanwhile  the  Greeks  poured  out  to  battle, 
and  in  the  midst  Achilles  armed  himself.  He 
put  the  lordly  greaves  about  his  legs,  and  fitted 
the  corselet  on  his  breast.  From  his  shoulders 
he  hung  the  sword,  and  he  took  the  great  shield 
that  Hephaestus  had  made,  and  it  blazed  as  it 
were  the  heaven.  Also  he  put  the  helmet  on 
his  head,  and  the  plumes  waved  all  around. 
Then  he  made  trial  of  the  arms,  and  they  fitted 
him  well,  and  bare  him  up  like  wings.  Last 
he  drew  from  its  case  his  father's  spear,  which 
Cheiron  cut  on  the  top  of  Pelion,  to  be  the 


236  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

death  of  many,  and  none  might  wield  it  but 
Achilles'  self.  Then  he  spake  to  his  horses : 
"  Take  heed,  Bayard  and  Piebald,  that  ye  save 
your  driver  to-day,  nor  leave  him  dead  on  the 
field,  as  ye  left  Patroclus." 

Then  Hera  gave  to  the  horse  Bayard  a  voice, 
so  that  he  spake :  "  Surely  we  will  save  thee, 
great  Achilles ;  yet  for  all  that,  doom  is  near  to 
thee,  nor  are  we  the  cause,  but  the  gods  and 
mastering  Fate.  Nor  was  it  of  us  that  Patro- 
clus died,  but  Apollo  slew  him  and  gave  the 
glory  to  Hector.  So  shalt  thou,  too,  die  by  the 
hands  of  a  god  and  of  a  mortal  man." 

And  Achilles  said :  "  What  need  to  tell  me 
of  my  doom  ?  Right  well  I  know  it.  Yet  will 
I  not  cease  till  I  have  made  the  Trojans  weary 
of  battle." 


THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  RIVER.  237 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

THE    BATTLE    AT    THE    RIVER. 

THUS  did  Achilles  go  again  into  the  battle, 
eager  above  all  things  to  meet  with  Hector 
and  to  slay  him. 

But  Apollo  stood  by  ^neas,  and  spake  to 
him,  "./Eneas, where  are  now  thy  boastings 
that  thou  wouldst  meet  Achilles  face  to  face  ?  " 

Then  yEneas  answered :  "  Nay,  I  have  stood 
up  against  him  in  the  day  when  he  took  the 
town  of  Lyrnessus.  But  I  fled  before  him, 
and  only  my  nimble  feet  saved  me  from  falling 
by  his  spear.  Surely  a  god  is  ever  with  him, 
making  his  spear  to  fly  aright." 

Him  Apollo  answered  again :  "  Thou,  too, 
art  the  son  of  a  goddess,  and  thy  mother  is 
greater  than  his,  for  she  is  but  a  daughter  of 
the  Sea.  Drive  straight  at  him  with  thy 
spear,  and  let  not  his  threats  dismay  thee." 

Then  ^neas  stood  out  from  the  press  to  meet 
\Achilles,  and  Achilles  said  :  "  Tightest  thou 


238  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

with  me  because  thou  hopest  to  reign  over  the 
men  of  Troy,  or  have  they  given  thee  a  choice 
portion  of  ground,  ploughland  and  orchard, 
to  be  thine  when  thou  hast  slain  me  ?  Thou 
wilt  not  find  it  easy.  Dost  thou  not  remem- 
ber how  thou  fleddest  before  me  in  the  day 
that  I  took  Lyrnessus  ?  " 

Then  ^Eneas  answered :  "  Think  not  to 
terrify  me  with  words,  son  of  Peleus,  for  I,  too, 
im  the  son  of  a  goddess.  Let  us  make  trial 
one  of  the  other." 

Then  he  cast  his  spear,  and  it  struck  the 
shield  of  Achilles  with  so  dreadful  a  sound 
that  the  hero  feared  lest  it  should  pierce  it 
through,  knowing  not  that  the  gifts  of  the 
gods  are  not  easy  for  mortal  man  to  vanquish. 
Two  folds,  indeed,  it  pierced,  that  were  of 
bronze,  but  in  the  gold  it  was  stayed,  and  there 
were  yet  two  of  tin  within.  Then  Achilles 
cast  his  spear.  Through  the  shield  of  ^Eneas 
it  .passed,  and  though  it  wounded  him  not,  yet 
was  he  sore  dismayed,  so  near  it  came.  Then 
Achilles  drew  his  sword,  and  rushed  on 
^)neas,  and  ^Eneas  caught  up  a  great  stone 
to  cast  at  him.  But  it  was  not  the  will  of  the 


•  s 

THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  RIVER.  239 

gods  that  ^Eneas  should  perish,  seeing  that 
lie  and  his  sons  after  him  should  rule  over  the 
men  of  Troy  in  the  ages  to  come.  Therefore 
Poseidon  lifted  him  up,  and  bore  him  over 

ithe  ranks  of  men  to  the  left  of  the  battle,  but 

(__ .^^—^^^ _— - — •— — . __ 

Erst  he  drew  the  spear  out  of  the  shield,  and 

laid  it  at  the  feet  of  Achilles.  Much  the  hero 
marvelled  to  see  it,  crying :  "  This  is  a  great 
wonder  that  I  behold  with  mine  eyes.  For  I 
see  my  spear  before  me,  but  the  man  whom  I 
sought  to  slay  I  see  not.  Of  a  truth  yEneas 
spake  truth,  saying  that  he  was  dear  to  the 
immortal  gods." 

Then  he  rushed  into  the  battle,  slaying  as 
he  went.  And  Hector  would  have  met  him, 
but  Apollo  stood  by  him,  and  said,  "  Fight 
not  with  Achilles,  lest  he  slay  thee."  There- 
fore he  went  back  among  the  men  of  Troy. 
Many  did  Achilles  slay,  and  among  them  Poly- 
dorus,  son  of  Priam,  who,  because  he  was  the 
youngest  and  very  dear,  his  father  suffered  not 
to^gojto_the  battle.  Yet  he  went,  in  his  folly, 
and  being  very  swift  of  foot,  he  trusted  in  his 
speed,  running  through  the  foremost  of  the 
fighters.  But  as  he  ran,  Achilles  smote  him, 


240  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

and  wounded  him  to  the  death.  When  Hector 
saw  it,  he  could  not  bear  any  more  to  stand 
apart.  Therefore  he  rushed  at  Achilles,  and 
Achilles  rejoiced  to  see  him,  saying,  "  This  is 
the  man  who  slew  my  comrade."  And  to 
Hector  he  cried,  "  Come  hither,  and  taste  of 
death." 

And  Hector  made  answer:  "  Son  of  Peleus, 

seek  not  to  make  me  afraid  with  words.     For 

^____ — ~~~~~ 

though  I  be  weaker  than  thou,  yet  victory 
lieth  on  the  knees  of  the  gods,  and  I,  too,  bear 
a  spear." 

Then  he  cast-  his  spear ;  but  Athene  turned 
it  aside  with  her  breath,  and  laid  it  again  at 
his  feet.  And  when  Achilles  leapt  upon 
Hector  with  a  shout,  Apollo  snatched  him 
away.  Three  times  did  Achilles  leap  upon 
him,  and  three  times  he  struck  only  the  mist. 
But  the  fourth  time  he  cried  with  a  terrible 
voice,  "  Dog,  thou  hast  escaped  from  death, 
Apollo  helping  thee ;  but  I  shall  meet  thee 
again,  and  make  an  end  of  thee." 

Then  Achilles  turned  to  the  others,  and 
slew  multitudes  of  them,  so  that  they  fled, 
some  across  the  plain,  and  some  to  the  river, 


JS 


THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  RIVER.  241 

the  eddying  Xanthus.  And  these  leapt  into 
the  water  as  locusts  leap  into  a  river  when  a 
fire  which  men  light  drives  them  from  the 
fields.  And  all  the  river  was  full  of  horses 
and  men.  Then  Achilles  leapt  into  the 
stream,  leaving  his  spear  on  the  bank,  resting 
on  the  tamarisk  trees.  Only  his  sword  had  he, 
and  with  this  he  slew  many ;  and  they  were  as 
fishes  which  fly  from  some  great  dolphin  in 
the  sea.  In  all  the  bays  of  a  harbour  they 
hide  themselves,  for  the  great  beast  devours 
them  apace.  So  did  the  Trojans  hide  them- 
selves under  the  banks  of  the  river.  And 
when  Achilles  was  weary  of  slaying,  he  took 
twelve  alive,  whom  he  would  slay  on  the  tomb 
of  Patroclus. 

Then  met  he  with  a  son  of  Priam,  Lycaon 
by  name,  whom  he  had  taken  captive  before. 
He  had  found  him  in  his  father's  vineyard, 
making  the  rims  of  a  chariot  from  a  wild  fig- 
tree  trunk,  and  sold  him  across  the  sea  to 
Lemnos.  There  a  friend  ransomed  him  for  a 
goodly  price;  so  he  came  again  to  his  father's 
house.  For  eleven  days  he  feasted  with  his 
comrades,  and  on  the  twelfth  went  forth  to 

Q 


242  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

the  battle.  Thus  did  Fate  put  him  again  into 
the  hands  of  Achilles. 

Then  Achilles  said :  "  This  is  a  wonder  that  I 
see.  The  Trojans  whom  I  sold  across  the  sea 
come  back.  Now  shall  this  man  taste  of  my 
spear,  and  I  will  mark  whether  he  shall  return 
again  from  below  the  earth,  from  the  place  that 
holdeth  the  mighty  fast." 

But  when  he  lifted  his  spear,  Lycaon  ran 
beneath  it,  and  caught  him  by  the  knees,  and 
prayed,  saying,  "  Slay  me  not,  I  beseech  thee, 
but  take  ransom  for  my  life,  for  though  I  be 
Priam's  son,  I  am  not  own  brother  to  Hector 
that  slew  thy  friend." 

But  Achilles  would  have  no  pity,  but  slew 
him,  and  taking  the  body  by  the  foot,  cast  it 
into  the  river,  saying,  "  Lie  there  and  feed  the 
fishes ;  no  mother  shall  lay  thee  on  a  bed,  and 
make  lamentation  over  thee." 

Then  next  there  met  him  Asteropaeus,  who 
was  the  grandson  of  the  river-god  Axius,  and 
led  the  men  of  Paeonia.  And  Achilles  won- 
dered to  see  him,  and  said, "  Who  art  thou,  that 
standest  against  me  ?  " 

And  he  said,  "  I    am  the  grandson    of   the 


THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  RIVER.  243 

river-god  Axius,  fairest  of  all  the  streams  on 
the  earth,  and  I  lead  the  men  of  Paeonia." 

And  as  he  spake  he  cast  two  spears,  one 
with  each  hand,  for  he  could  use  either  alike ; 
and  the  one  struck  the  shield,  nor  pierced  it 
through,  for  the  gold  stayed  it,  and  the  JD the r 
grazed  the  right  hand  so  that  the  blood  spurted 
forth.  Then  did  Achilles  cast  his  spear,  but 
missed  his  aim,  and  the  great  spear  stood  fast 
in  the  bank.  And  thrice  Asteropasus  strove 
to  draw  it  forth.  Thrice  he  strove  in  vain,  and 
the  fourth  time  he  strove  to  break  the  spear. 
But  as  he  strove  Achilles  smote  him  that  he 
died.  Yet  had  he  some  glory,  for  that  he 
wounded  the  great  Achilles. 


244  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

THE    BATTLE    OF    THE    GODS. 

WHEN  the  River  saw  that  Asteropaeus  was 
dead,  and  that  Achilles  was  slaying  many  of 
the  Paeonians  —  for  these  were  troubled,  their 
chief  being  dead  —  he  took  upon  him  the  shape 
of  a  man,  and  spake  to  Achilles,  saying :  "  Truly, 
Achilles,  thou  excellest  all  other  men  in  might 
and  deeds  of  blood,  for  the  gods  themselves 
protect  thee.  It  may  be  that  Zeus  hath  given 
thee  to  slay  all  the  sons  of  Troy ;  nevertheless, 
depart  from  me  and  work  thy  will  upon  the 
plain ;  for  my  stream  is  choked  with  the  mul- 
titude of  corpses,  nor  can  I  pass  to  the  sea. 
Do  thou,  therefore,  cease  from  troubling  me." 

To  him  Achilles  made  answer:  "  This  shall 
be  as  thou  wilt,  O  Scamander.  But  the  Tro- 
jans I  will  not  cease  from  slaying  till  I  have 
driven  them  into  their  city  and  have  made  trial 
of  Hector,  whether  I  shall  vanquish  him  or  he 
shall  vanquish  me." 


THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  GODS.  245 

And  as  he  spake  he  sped  on,  pursuing  the 
Trojans.  Then  the  River  cried  to  Apollo: 
"  Little  thou  doest  the  will  of  thy  father,  thou 
of  the  Silver  Bow,  who  bade  thee  stand  by  the 
men  of  Troy  and  help  them  till  darkness  should 
cover  the  land."  And  he  rushed  on  with  a 
great  wave,  stirring  together  all  his  streams. 
The  dead  bodies  he  threw  upon  the  shore, 
roaring  as  a  bull  roareth ;  and  them  that  lived 
;he  hid  in  the  depth  of  his  eddies.  And  all 
about  Achilles  rose  up  the  flood,  beating  full 
upon  his  shield,  so  that  he  could  not  stand  fast 
upon  his  feet.  Then  Achilles  laid  hold  of  a 
lime  tree,  fair  and  tall,  that  grew  upon  the 
bank ;  but  the  tree  brake  therefrom  with  all 
its  roots,  and  tare  down  the  bank,  and  lay 
across  the  River,  staying  its  flow,  for  it  had 
many  branches.  Thereupon  Achilles  leapt  out  A/ 
of  the  water  and  sped  across  the  plain,  being 
sore  afraid.  But  the  River  ceased  not  from 
pursuing  him,  that  he  might  stay  him  from 
slaughter  and  save  the  sons  of  Troy.  So  far 
as  a  man  may  throw  a  spear,  so  far  did  Achil- 
les leap;  strong  as  an  eagle  was  he,  the 
hunter-bird  that  is  the  strongest  and  swiftest 


246  THE  STORY  OF  7*HE  ILIAD. 

of  all  birds.  And  still  as  he  fled  the  River 
pursued  after  him  with  a  great  roar.  Even 
as  it  is  with  a  man  that  would  water  his 
garden,  bringing  a  stream  from  a  fountain ; 
he  has  a  pickaxe  in  his  hand,  to  break  down 
all  that  would  stay  the  water ;  and  the  stream 
runs  on,  rolling  the  pebbles  along  with  it, 
and  overtakes  him  that  guides  it.  Even  s 
did  the  River  overtake  Achilles,  for  all  tha 
he  was  swift  of  foot,  for  indeed  the  gods  are 
mightier  than  men.  And  when  Achilles 
would  have  stood  against  the  River,  seeking 
to  know  whether  indeed  all  the  gods  were 
against  him,  then  the  great  wave  smote  upon 
his  shoulders  ;  and  when  he  leapt  into  the  air, 
it  bowed  his  knees  beneath  him  and  devoured 
the  ground  from  under  his  feet.  Then  Achil- 
les looked  up  to  heaven  and  groaned,  crying 
out :  "  O  Zeus,  will  none  of  the  gods  pity  me, 
and  save  me  from  the  River  ?  I  care  not  what 
else  may  befall  me.  Truly  my  mother  hath 
deceived  me,  saying  that  I  should  perish  under 
the  walls  of  Troy  by  the  arrows  of  Apollo. 
Surely  it  had  been  better  that  Hector  should 
slay  me,  for  he  is  the  bravest  of  the  men  of 


THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  GODS.  247 

Troy,  but  now  I  shall  perish  miserably  in  the 
River,  as  some  herdboy  perisheth  whom  a  tor- 
rent sweeps  away  in  a  storm." 

So  he  spake ;  but  Poseidon  and  Athene 
stood  by  him,  having  taken  upon  them  the 
shape  of  men,  and  took  him  by  the  hand  and 
strengthened  him  with  comforting  words,  for 
Poseidon  spake,  saying:  "  Son  of  Peleus,  trem- 
le  notT neither  be  afraid.  It  is  not  thy  fate  to 
be  mastered  by  the  River.  He  shall  soon 
cease  from  troubling  thee..  And  do  thou  heed 
what  we  say.  Stay  not  thy  hands  from  the 
battle,  till  thou  shalt  have  driven  all  the  sons 
of  Troy  that  escape  thee  within  the  walls  of 
the  city.  And  when  thou  shalt  have  slain 
Hector,  go  back  to  the  ships  ;  for  this  day  is 
the  day  of  thy  glory." 

^    Then  the  two  departed  from  him.     Now  all 

>  the   plain    was    covered   with   water,   wherein 

floated   much    fair    armour    and    many    dead 

bodies.     But   Achilles  went  on   even   against 

vthe   stream,    nor   could    the    River   hold    him 

t^ack ;    for   Athene  put    great  might  into  his 

heart.     Yet  did  not  Scamander  cease  from  his 

wrath,  but   lifted   his   waves   yet   higher,   and 


248  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

cried  aloud  to  Simois :  "  Dear  brother,  let  us 
two  stay  the  fury  of  this  man,  or  else  of  a 
surety  he  will  destroy  the  city  of  Priaml 
Come  now,  fill  all  thy  streams  and  rouse  thy 
torrents  against  him,  and  lift  up  against  him 
a  mighty  wave  with  a  great  concourse  of  tree- 
trunks  and  stones,  that  we  may  stay  this  wild 
man  from  his  fighting.  Very  high  thoughts 
hath  he,  even  as  a  god ;  yet  shall  neither  his 
might,  nor  his  beauty,  nor  his  fair  form  profit 
him ;  for  they  shall  be  covered  with  much 
mud ;  and  over  himself  will  I  heap  abundance 
of  sand  beyond  all  counting.  Neither  shall 
the  Greeks  be  able  to  gather  his  bones 
together,  with  such  a  heap  will  I  hide  them. 
Surely  a  great  tomb  will  I  build  for  him ;  nor 
will  his  people  have  need  to  make  a  mound 
over  him  when  they  would  bury  him." 

Then  lie  rushed  again  upon  Achilles,  swell- 
ing high  with  foam  and  blood  and  dead  bodies  ; 
of  men.  Very  dark  was  the  wave  as  it  rose, 
and  was  like  to  have  overwhelmed  the  man,  so 
that  Hera  greatly  feared  for  him,  lest  the  River 
should  sweep  him  away.  And  she  cried  to 
Hephaestus,  her  son,  saying :  "  Rouse  thee, 


THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  GODS.  249 

Haltfoot,  my  son  !  I  thought  that  thou  wouldst 
have  been  a  match  for  Scamander  in  battle. 
But  come,  help  us,  and  bring  much  fire  with 
thee;  and  I  will  call  the  west  wind  and  the 
south  wind  from  the  sea,  with  such  a  storm  as 
shall  consume  the  sons  of  Troy,  both  them  and 
their  arms.  And  do  thou  burn  the  trees  that 
are  by  the  banks  of  Xanthus,  yea,  and  the 
River  himself.  And  let  him  not  turn  thee 
from  thy  purpose  by  fury  or  by  craft ;  but 
burn  till  I  shall  bid  thee  cease." 

Then  Hephaestus  lit  a  great  fire.  First  it 
burned  the  dead  bodies  that  lay  upon  the 
plain,  and  it  dried  all  the  plain,  as  the  north 
wind  in  the  autumn  time  dries  a  field,  to  the 
joy  of  him  that  tills  it.  After  this  it  laid  hold 
of  the  River.  The  lime  tree  and  the  willows 
and  the  tamarisks  it  burned ;  also  the  plants 
that  grew  in  the  streams.  And  the  eels  and 
the  fishes  were  sore  distressed,  twisting  hither 
and  thither  in  the  water,  being  troubled  by  the 
breath  of  Hephaestus.  So  the  might  of  the 
River. was-  subdued,  and  he  cried  aloud:  "O 
Hephaestus,  no  one  of  the  gods  can  match  him- 
self with  thee.  Cease  now  from  consuming 


250  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

me ;  and  Achilles  may  drive  the  men  of  Troy 
from  their  city  if  he  will.  What  have  I  to  do 
with  the  strife  and  sorrow  of  men  ?  " 

So  he  spake,  for  all  his  streams  were  boiling 
—  as  a  caldron  boils  with  a  great  fire  beneath 
it,  when  a  man  would  melt  the  fat  of  a  great 
hog ;  nor  could  he  flow  any  longer  to  the  sea, 
so  sorely  did  the  breath  of  the  Fire-god  trouble 
him.  Then  he  cried  aloud  to  Hera,  entreating 
her :  "  O  Hera,  why  doth  thy  son  torment  me 
only  among  all  ?  Why  should  I  be  blamed 
more  than  others  that  help  the  men  of  Troy  ? 
Verily,  I  will  cease  from  helping  them,  if  he 
also  will  cease.  Nay,  I  will  swear  a  great  oath 
that  I  will  keep  no  more  the  day  of  doom  from 
the  sons  of  Troy;  no,  not  when  all  the  city 
shall  be  consumed  with  fire." 

And  Queen  Hera  heard  him,  and  called  to 
Hephaestus,  saying:  "Cease,  my  son;  it  doth 
not  beseem  thee  to  work  such  damage  to  a  god 
for  the  sake  of  a  mortal  man." 

So  Hephaestus  quenched  his  fire,  and  the 
River  flowed  as  he  flowed  before. 

But  among  the  other  gods  there  arose  a 
dreadful  strife,  for  they  were  divided,  the  onej 


THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  GODS.       2$  I 

part  against  the  other.  With  a  great  crash 
they  came  together,  and  the  broad  earth  re- 
sounded, and  the  heavens  rang  as  with  the 
voice  of  a  trumpet;  and  Zeus  heard  it  as  he 
sat  on  Olympus,  and  was  glad  in  heart  to  see 
the  gods  join  in  battle. 

First  of  all,  Ares,  the  shield-piercer,  rushed 
against  Athene,  holding  his  spear  in  his  hand, 
and  cried :  "  Why  dost  thou  make  the  gods  to 
strive  in  battle,  thou  that  art  bold  as  a  fly  and 
shameless  as  a  dog  ?  Dost  thou  not  remember 
how  thou  didst  set  Diomed,  the  son  of  Tydeus, 
upon  me  to  wound  me,  and  how  thou  didst 
take  his  spear  in  thy  hand,  so  that  all  might 
see  it,  and  drive  it  through  my  thigh  ?  Now 
will  I  requite  thee  for  all  that  thou  hast 
done." 

And  he  smote  on  the  aegis  shield  —  the 
mighty  shield  that  not  even  the  thunder  of 
Zeus  can  break.  But  Athene  took  up  in  her 
hand  a  great  stone  that  lay  upon  the  plain. 
Black  it  was  and  rough,  and  very  great,  that 
men  of  old  had  set  for  a  boundary  of  the  field. 
With  this  she  smote  Ares  on  the  neck,  that  his 
knees  failed  beneath  him.  He  lay  along  the 


252  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

ground,  a  hundred  feet  and  more,  and  Athene 
laughed  when  she  saw  him,  and  cried :  "  Fool ! 
hast  thou  not  yet  learned  how  much  stronger  I 
am  than  thou,  that  thou  matchest  thy  might 
against  me  ?  Lie  there  and  suffer  the  curses 
of  thy  mother;  for  she  is  wroth  because  thou 
hast  betrayed  the  Greeks  and  helpest  the  men 
of  Troy." 

But  Aphrodite  took  him  by  the  hand,  and 
would  have  led  him  away;  deep  did  he  groan, 
and  scarce  could  he  gather  his  spirit  together. 
But  when  Hera  saw  it,  she  cried  to  Athene, 
saying :  "  See  now,  how  Aphrodite  would  lead 
Ares  out  of  the  battle !  Pursue  her  now,  and 
hinder  her." 

So  Athene  pursued  after  her,  and  smote  her 
on  the  breast  with  her  heavy  hand ;  and  her 
knees  failed  beneath  her.  So  these  two  lay 
upon  the  earth,  and  Athene  cried  over  them : 
"  Now  would  that  all  who  help  the  sons  of 
Troy  were  as  brave  and  strong  as  these  two. 
Long  since  had  we  ceased  from  war  and  de- 
stroyed the  fair  city  of  Troy." 

Then  the  Great  Earthshaker  spake  to 
Apollo:  "Why  stand  we  apart?  Surely  tin's 


THE  BATTLE  OF  THE    GODS.  253 

doth  not  become  us,  now  that  the  others  have 
joined  battle  !  It  were  shameful  that  we  should 
go  back  to  Olympus  and  have  not  first  fought 
together.  And  surely  thou  art  foolish.  Dost 
thou  not  remember  what  we  suffered,  thou  and 
I  alone  of  all  the  gods,  when  by  the  will  of 
Zeus,  we  served  King  Laomedon  for  the  space 
of  a  year,  labouring  for  wages  ?  I,  indeed,  built 
a  wall  about  Troy,  broad  and  very  fair,  that  no 
man  should  spoil  the  city,  and  thou  didst  tend 
the  herd  of  oxen  in  the  glens  of  Mount  Ida. 
But  when  the  Hours  brought  the  term  of  our 
hiring  to  an  end,  then  did  this  evil  Laomedon 
rob  us  of  all  our  hire,  and  threaten  us,  and 
send  us  away.  As  for  thee,  he  sware  that  he 
would  bind  thy  hands  and  feet,  and  sell  thee  to 
some  far  island  across  the  sea.  Also,  he 
affirmed  that  he  would  cut  off  the  ears  of  both 
of  us.  So  we  departed,  wrathful  in  heart,  and 
lacking  the  hire  which  he  promised  and  paid 
not.  Yet  for  all  this,  thou  helpest  this  people, 
and  joinest  not  thyself  to  us,  that  these  men  of 
Troy  may  perish  altogether  —  they  and  their 
wives  and  their  children." 

To    him    Apollo    made    answer :    "  Earth- 


254  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

shaker,  thou  wouldst  not  call  me  wise  were_j 
to  fight  with  thee  for  the  sake  of  miserable 
men.  For  they  are  but  as  the  leaves.  For 
to-day  they  be  in  the  midst  of  their  life,  eating 
the  fruit  of  the  ground,  and  to-morrow  they 
perish  utterly.  Let  others  strive ;  but  we  will 
not  fight  together." 

And  he  turned  to  depart;  for  he  feared  to 
join  battle  with  the  brother  of  his  sire.  But 
his  sister  Artemis,  the  great  huntress  of  beasts, 
was  very  wroth  when  she  saw  him  depart, 
and  rebuked  him,  crying :  "  Dost  thou  fly, 
Far-Shooter,  and  yield  the  victory  to  Posei- 
don ?  For  what  then  hast  thou  thy  bow  ? 
Never  let  me  hear  thee  boast  again,  as  thou 
hast  been  wont  to  boast  in  the  hall  of  thy 
father,  that  thou  wouldst  do  battle  with  Posei- 
don!" 

No  answer  made  Apollo;  but  the  wife  of 
Zeus  spake  to  her  in  wrath :  "  How  thinkest 
thou,  shameless  one,  to  stand  against  me  ?  No 
easy  one  am  I  for  thee  to  match,  for  all  that 
thou  hast  a  bow,  and  that  Zeus  hath  made 
thee  a  devouring  lioness  for  women  to  slay 
whom  thou  wilt.  Tis  better  for  thee  to  hunt 


THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  GODS.  255 

deer  upon  the  hills  than  to  fight  with  them 
that  are  stronger  than  thou." 

Then  did  Hera  lay  her  left  hand  upon  the 
hands  of  Artemis  by  the  wrist,  and  with  her 
right  hand  she  took  from  her  her  arrows  and 
her  bows,  and  smote  her  with  them  about  the 
ears,  as  she  turned  away,  smiling  the  while ; 
and  the  arrows  fell  from  the  quiver.  And  the 
goddess  fled,  leaving  her  bow  behind,  even  as 
a  dove  flieth  from  before  a  hawk  to  her  hole 
among  the  rocks. 

Then  spake  Hermes  to  Latona :  "  I  will 
not  fight  with  thee,  O  Latona!  Tis  a  hard 
thing  to  strive  with  them  that  Zeus  hath 
loved.  Boast  as  thou  wilt  among  the  immor- 
tal gods  that  thou  hast  conquered  me  in 
battle." 

So  he  spake ;  but  Latona  gathered  together 
the  bow  and  the  arrows  that  had  fallen  this 
way  and  that  way  in  the  dust.  And  Artemis 
came  to  Olympus,  to  the  hall  of  Zeus  that  is 
paved  with  bronze ;  and,  weeping  sore,  she  sat 
on  her  father's  knee ;  and  her  veil  was  shaken 
about  her  with  her  sobbing.  Then  her  father 
took  her  to  him,  and  laughed,  and  said :  "  Who, 


2 $6  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

of  the  dwellers  in  heaven  hath  so  dealt  with 
thee,  my  child  ?  " 

And  Artemis  said,  "  It  was  Hera,  my  father, 
that  smote  me  —  Hera,  that  always  maketh 
strife  and  quarrel  among  the  immortal  gods." 


fc. 

- 


THE  SLAYING   OF  HECTOR.  257 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 

THE    SLAYING   OF    HECTOR. 

WHILE  these  things  were  doing,  Achilles 
^easedjiatJtCLpiirsue  and  slay . the  mea  of  Troy, 
and  Priam  stood  on  a  tower  of  the  wall  and 
saw  the  people.  Sore  troubled  was  he,  and  he 
hastened  down  to  the  gates  and  said  to  the 
keepers,  "  Keep  the  wicket-gates  in  your  hands 
open,  that  the  people  may  enter  in,  for  they  fly 
before  ^Achines/j  So  the  keepers  held  the 
wicket-gates  in  their  hands,  and  the  people 
hastened  in,  wearied  with  toil  and  thirst,  and 
covered  with  dust,  and  Achilles  followed  close 
upon  them.  And  that  hour  would  the  Greeks 
I  have  taken  the  city  of  Troy,  but  that  Apollo 
I  saved  it.  For  he  put  courage  into  the  heart  of 
Antenor's  son  Agenor,  standing  also  by  him, 
that  he  should  not  be  slain.  Therefore  Agenor 
stood,  thinking  within  himself :  — 

"Shall  I  now  flee  with  these  others?    Nay, 
for  not  the  less  will  Achilles  take  me  and  slay 

R 


cicls  wo\(o<^($kM* 

258  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

i^^^mfi^and  I  shall  die  as  a  coward  dies.  Or  shall 
I  flee  across  the  plain  to  Ida,  and  hide  me  in 
the  thickets,  and  come  back  at  nightfall  to  the 
city  ?  Yet  should  he  see  me  he  will  overtake 
me  and  smite  me,  so  swift  of  foot  is  he  and 
strong.  But  what  if  I  stand  to  meet  him 
before  the  gates  ?  Well,  he,  too,  is  a  mortal 
man,  and  his  flesh  may  be  pierced  by  the  spear." 
Therefore  he  stood  till  Achilles  should  come 
near.  And  when  he  came  he  cast  his  spear, 
striking  the  leg  below  the  knee,  but  the  greave 
turned  off  the  spear,  so  strong  was  it.  But 
when  Achilles  would  have  slain  him,  lo !  Apollo 
lifted  him  up  and  set  him  within  the  city.  And 
that  the  men  of  Troy  might  have  time  to  enter, 
he  took  upon  him  Agenor's  shape.  And  the 
false  Agenor  fled,  and  Achilles  pursued.  But 
meanwhile  the  men  of  Troy  flocked  into  the 
city,  nor  did  they  stay  to  ask  who  was  safe  and 
who  was  dead,  in  such  haste  and  fear  did  they 
flee.  Only  Hector  remained  outside  the  walls, 
standing  in  front  of  the  great  Scaean  gates. 
But  all  the  while  Achilles  was  fiercely  pursu- 
ing the  false  Agenor,  till  at  last  Apollo  turned 
and  spake  to  him  :  — 


SLAYING  OF  HECTOR.  259 

"Why  dost  thou  pursue  me,  swift-footed 
Achilles  ?  Hast  thou  not  yet  found  out  that  I 
am  a  god,  and  that  all  thy  fury  is  in  vain  ? 
And  now  all  the  sons  of  Troy  are  safe  in  their 
city,  and  thou  art  here,  far  out  of  the  way,  seek- 
ing to  slay  me,  who  cannot  die." 

In  great  wrath  Achilles  answered  him:*)  "Thou" 
hasTclone  me  wrong  in  so  drawing  me  away 
from  the  wall,  great  archer,  most  mischief-loving 
i_pf_all  the  gods  that  are.  Had  it  not  been  for 
this,  many  a  Trojan  more  had  bitten  the  ground. 
Thou  hast  robbed  me  of  great  glory,  and  saved 
thy  favourites.  O  that  I  had  the  power  to  take 
vengeance  on  thee  !  Thou  hadst  paid  dearly 
for  thy  cheat  !  " 

Then  he  turned  and  rushed  towards  the 
city,  swift  as  a  race-horse  whirls  a  chariot 
across  the  plain.  Old  Priam  spied  him  from 
the  walls,  with  his  glittering  armour,  bright  as 
that  brightest  of  the  stars  —  men  call  it 
Orion's  dog  —  which  shines  at  vintage-time,  a 
baleful  light,  bringing  the  fevers  of  autumn  to 
men.^  And  the  old  man  groaned  aloud  \vhen 
he  saw  him,  and  stretching  out  his  hands,  cried 
to  his  son  Hector,  where  he  stood  before  the 


r 


260  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

gates,    eager    to    do    battle   with   this    dread 
warrior :  — 

"  Wait  not  for  this  man,  dear  son,  wait 
for  him,  lest  thou  die  beneath  his  hand, 
indeed  he  is  stronger  than  thou.  Wretch 
he  is !  I  would  that  the  gods  bare  such  love 
to  him  as  I  bare !  Right  soon  would  the  dogs 
and  vultures  eat  him.  Of  many  brave  sons 
has  he  bereaved  me.  Two  I  miss  to-day  — 
Polydorus  and  Lycaon.  May  be  they "  are~yet-J 
alive  in  the  host  of  the  Greeks,  and  I  shall  buy 
them  back  with  gold,  of  which  I  have  yet  great 
store  in  my  house.  And  if  they  are  dead,  sore 
grief  will  it  be  to  me  and  to  the  mother  who 
bare  them;  but  little  will  care  the  other  sons 
of  Troy,  so  that  thou  fall  not  beneathjhe  hand 
of  Achilles.  Come  within  the  walls,  dear 
child ;  come  to  save  the  sons  and  daughters  of 
Troy;  come  in  pity  for  me,  thy  father,  for 
whom,  in  my  old  age,  an  evil  fate  is  in  store,  to 
see  sons  slain  with  the  sword,  and  daughters 
carried  into  captivity,  and  babes  dashed  upon 
the  ground.  Ay,  and  last  of  all,  the  dogs 
which  I  have  reared  in  my  palace  will  devour 
me,  lapping  my  blood  and  tearing  my  flesh  as 


THE  SLAYING   OF  HECTOR.  261 

t 

I  lie  on  the  threshold  of  my  home.  That  a> 
young  man  should  fall  in  battle  and  suffer 
such  lot  as  happens  to  the  slain,  this  is  to  be 
borne;  but  that  such  dishonour  should  be 
done  to  the  white  hair  and  white  beard  of  the 
old,  mortal  eyes  can  see  no  fouler  sight  than 
this." 

Thus  old  Priam  spake,  but  could  not  turn 
the  heart  of  his  son.  And  from  the  wall  on 
the  other  side  of  the  gate  his  mother  called  to 
him,  weeping  sore,  and  if,  perchance,  she  might 
thus  move  his  pity,  she  bared  her  bosom  in  his 
sight,  and  said  :  — 

"Pity  me,  my  son ;  think  of  the  breast  which 
I  gave  thee  in  the  old  days,  and  stilled  thy 
cries.  Come  within  the  walls ;  wait  not  for 
this  man,  nor  stand  in  battle  against  him.  If 
he  slay  thee,  nor  I,  nor  thy  wife,  shall  pay  thee 
the  last  honours  of  the  dead,  but  far  away  by 
the  ships  of  the  Greeks  the  dogs  and  vultures 
will  devour  thee." 

So  father  and  mother  besought  their  son, 
but  all  in  vain.  He  was  still  minded  to  abide 
the  coming  of  Achilles.  Just  as  in  the  moun- 
tains a  great  snake  at  its  hole  abides  the  com- 


262  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

ing  of  a  man :  fierce  glare  its  eyes,  and  it  coils 
its  tail  about  its  hole :  so  Hector  waited  for 
Achilles ;  and  as  he  waited  he  thought  thus 
within  himself :  — 

"  Wo.e  is  me  if  I  go  within  the  walls !  Poly- 
damas  will  be  the  first  to  reproach  me,  for  he 
advised  me  to  bring  back  the  sons  of  Troy  to 
the  city  before  the  night  when  Achilles  roused 
himself  to  war.  But  I  would  not  listen  to  him. 
Would  that  I  had !  it  had  been  much  better  for 
us;  but  now  I  have  destroyed  the  people  by 
my  folly.  I  fear  the  sons  and  daughters  of 
Troy,  what  they  may  say;  I  fear  lest  some 
coward  reproach  me :  '  Hector  trusted  in  his 
strength,  and  lo !  he  has  destroyed  the  people/ 
Better  were  it  for  me  either  to  slay  Achilles  or 
to  fall  by  his  hand  with  honour  here  before  the 
walls.  Or  stay :  shall  I  put  down  my  shield, 
and  lay  aside  my  helmet,  and  lean  my  spear 
against  the  wall  and  go  to  meet  the  great 
Achilles,  and  promise  that  we  will  give  back 
the  fair  Helen,  and  all  the  wealth  that  Paris 
carried  off  with  her ;  ay,  and  render  up  all  the 
wealth  that  there  is  in  the  city,  that  the  Greeks 
may  divide  it  among  themselves,  binding  the 


THE  SLAYING   OF  HECTOR.  263 

sons  of  Troy  with  an  oath  that  they  keep 
nothing  back  ?  But  this  is  idle  talk :  he  will 
have  no  shame  or  pity,  but  will  slay  me  while 
I  stand  without  arms  or  armour  before  him. 
It  is  not  for  us  to  talk  as  a  youth  and  a  maiden 
talk  together.  It  is  better  to  meet  in  arms, 
and  see  whether  the  ruler  of  Olympus  will  give 
victory  to  him  or  to  me." 

Thus  he  thought  in  his  heart ;  and  Achilles 
came  near,  brandishing  over  his  right  shoulder 
the  great  Pelian  spear,  and  the  flash  of  his  arms 
was  as  the  flame  of  fire,  or  as  the  rising  sun. 
And  Hector  trembled  when  he  saw  him,  nor 
dared  to  abide  his  coming.  Fast  he  fled  from 
the  gates,  and  fast  Achilles  pursued  him,  as 
a  hawk,  fastest  of  all  the  birds  of  air,  pursues  a 
dove  upon  the  mountains.  Past  the  watch- 
tower  they  ran,  past  the  wind-blown  fig  tree, 
along  the  wagon-road  which  went  about  the 
walls,  and  they  came  to  the  fair-flowing  fountain 
where  from  two  springs  rises  the  stream  of 
eddying  Scamander.  Hot  is  one  spring,  and  a 
steam  ever  goes  up  from  it,  as  from  a  burning 
fire;  and  cold  is  the  other,  cold,  even  in  the 
summer  heats,  as  hail  or  snow  or  ice.  There 


. 

/Mr;   ;  ^4  few  dc  ^  die  it 

264  raS1  STORY 


STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

are  fair  basins  of  stone,  where  the  wives  and  fair 
daughters  of  Troy  were  wont  to  wash  their 
garments,  but  that  was  in  the  old  days  of  peace, 
or  ever  the  Greeks  came  to  the  land.  Past  the 
springs  they  ran,  one  flying,  the  other  pursuing; 
brave  was  he  that  fled,  braver  he  that  pursued ; 
it  was  no  sheep  for  sacrifice  or  shield  of  ox-hide 
for  which  they  ran,  but  for  the  life  of  Hector, 
the  tamer  of  horses.  Thrice  they  ran  round 

the  city,  and  all  the  eods  looked  on. 

J  r~° — • 

And  Zeus  said:  J*  This  is  a  piteous  sight  that 
I  behold.  My  heart  is  grieved  for  Hector  — 
Hector,  who  has  ever  worshipped  me  with  sac- 
rifice, now  on  the  heights  of  Ida.  and  now  in  the 
citadel  of  Troy;  and  now  the  great  Achilles  is 
pursuing  him  round  the  city  of  Priam.  Come, 
ye  gods,  let  us  take  counsel  together.  Shall  we 
save  him  from  death,  or  let  him  fall  beneath  the 
(hand  of  Achilles-? "- 

Then  Athene  said :  "!  What  is  this  that  thou 
sayest,  great  sire  ?  —  to  rescue  a  man  whom  fate 
has  appointed  to  die  ?  Do  it,  if  it  be  thy  will ; 
but  we,  the  other  gods,  approve  it  not." 

Zeus  answered  her:  "My  heart  is  loath;  yet 
I  would  do  thee  pleasure.  Be  it  as  thou  wilt." 


-tl^St  ;/t 


SLAYING   OF  HECTOR.  26$ 

Then  Athene  came  down  in  haste  from  the 
top  of  Olympus,  and  still  Hector  fled  and 
Achilles  pursued,  just  as  a  dog  pursues  a  fawn 
upon  the  hills.  And  ever  Hector  made  for  the 
gates,  or  to  get  shelter  beneath  the  towers,  if 
haply  those  that  stood  upon  them  might  defend 
him  with  their  spears ;  and  ever  Achilles  would 
get  before  him,  and  drive  him  towards  the  plain. 
So  they  ran,  one  making  for  the  city,  and  the 
other  driving  him  to  the  plain.  Just  as  in  a 
dream,  when  one  seems  to  fly  and  another  seems 
to  pursue,  and  the  one  cannot  escape  and  the 
other  cannot  overtake,  so  these  two  ran  to- 
gether. But  as  for  Hector,  Apollo  even  yet 
helped  him,  and  gave  him  strength  and  nimble 
knees,  else  could  he  not  have  held  out  against 
Achilles,  who  was  swiftest  of  foot  among  the 
sons  of  men. 

Now  Achilles  had  beckoned  to  the  Greeks 
that  no  man  should  throw  his  spear  at  Hector, 
lest,  perchance,  he  should  be  robbed  of  his 
glory.  And  when  the  two  came  in  their  run- 
ning for  the  fourth  time  to  the  springs  of 
Scamander,  Zeus  held  out  the  great  balance 
of  doom,  and  in  one  scale  he  put  the  fate  of 


/-T{/i/v'-<y  wv\jiy*i/vyv»$  tv/  ' 


-W  \  . 

I        wrov^sas 


266  27/A-  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

Achilles,  and  in  the  other  the  fate  of  Hector ; 
and  lo  !  the  scale  of  Hector  sank  down  to  the 
realms  of  death,  and  Apollo  left  him. 

Then  Athene  lighted  down  from  the  air 
close  to  Achilles  and  said :  "  This,  great 
Achilles,  is  our  day  of  glory,  for  we  shall  slay 
Hector,  mighty  warrior  though  he  be.  For  it 
is  his  doom  to  die,  and  not  Apollo's  self  shall 
save  him.  But  stand  thou  still  and  take 
breath,  and  I  will  give  this  man  heart  to  meet 
thee  in  battle." 

So  Achilles  stood  leaning  upon  his  spear. 
And  Athene  took  the  shape  of  Dei'phobus,  and 
came  near  to  Hector  and  said :  — 

"  Achilles  presses  thee  hard,  my  brother, 
pursuing  thee  thus  round  the  city  of  Priam. 
Come,  let  us  make  a  stand  and  encounter 
him." 

Then  Hector  answered  him,  "  Dei'phobus, 
I  always  loved  thee  best  of  all  my  brothers; 
but  now  I  love  thee  yet  more,  for  that  thou 
alone,  while  all  others  remained  within,  hast 
ventured  forth  to  stand  by  my  side." 

But  the  false  Dei'phobus  said :  "  Much  did 
father  and  mother  and  all  my  comrades  beseech 


THE  SLAYING   OF  HECTOR.  267 

me  to  remain.  But  my  heart  was  sore  troubled 
for  thee,  and  I  could  not  stay.  But  let  us 
stand  and  fight  this  man,  not  stinting  our 
spears,  and  see  whether  he  shall  carry  our  spoil 
to  the  ships,  or  we  shall  slay  him  here." 

Then  the  two  chiefs  came  near  to  each 
other,  and  Hector  with  the  waving  plume  spake 
first,  and  said :  "  Thrice,  great  Achilles,  hast 
thou  pursued  me  round  the  walls  of  Troy,  and 
I  dared  not  stand  up  against  thee ;  but  now  I 
fear  thee  no  more.  Only  let  us  make  this 
covenant  between  us :  if  Zeus  give  me  the 
victory,  I  will  do  no  dishonour  to  thy  body ; 
thy  arms  and  armour  will  I  take,  and  give  back 
thy  body  to  the  Greeks ;  and  do  thou  promise 
to  do  likewise." 

But  Achilles  scowled  at  him  and  said: 
"  Hector,  talk  not  of  covenants  to  me.  Men 
and  lions  make  no  oaths  between  each  other, 
neither  is  there  any  agreement  between  wolves 
and  sheep.  So  there  shall  be  no  covenant 
between  me  and  thee.  One  of  us  two  shall 
fall ;  and  now  is  the  time  for  thee  to  show  thy- 
self a  warrior,  for  of  a  truth  Athene  will  slay 
thee  by  my  spear,  and  thou  shalt  pay  the 


A 

£U, 

268  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

penalty  for  all  my  comrades  whom  thou  hast 
slain." 

Then  he  threw  the  mighty  spear,  but  Hector 
saw  it  coming  and  avoided  it,  crouching  on 
the  ground,  so  that  the  mighty  spear  flew 
above  his  head  and  fixed  itself  in  the  earth. 
But  Athene  snatched  it  from  the  ground  and 
gave  it  back  to  Achilles,  Hector  not  perceiv- 
ing. 

Then  Hector  spake  to  Achilles :  "  Thou 
hast  missed  thy  aim,  great  Achilles.  It  was 
no  word  of  Zeus  that  thou  spakest,  prophesy- 
ing my  doom,  but  thou  soughtest  to  cheat  me, 
terrifying  me  by  thy  words.  Thou  shalt  not 
drive  thy  steel  into  my  back,  but  here  into 
my  breast,  if  the  gods  will  it  so.  But  now 
look  out  for  my  spear.  Would  it  might  bury 
itself  in  thy  flesh !  The  battle  would  be  easier 
for  the  men  of  Troy  were  thou  only  out  of  the 
way." 

And  as  he  spake  he  threw  his  long-shafted 
spear.  True  aim  he  took,  for  the  spear  struck 
the  very  middle  of  Achilles'  shield.  It  struck, 
but  pierced  it  not,  but  bounded  far  away,  for 
the  shield  was  not  of  mortal  make.  And 


THE  SLAYING   OF  HECTOR.  269 

Hector  stood  dismayed,  for  he  had  not  another 
spear,  and  when  he  called  to  Dei'phobus  that 
he  should  give  him  another,  lo !  Dei'phobus 
was  gone.  Then  Hector  knew  that  his  end 
was  come,  and  he  said  to  himself :  "  Now  have 
the  gods  called  me  to  my  doom.  I  thought 
that  Dei'phobus  was  near;  but  he  is  within 
the  walls,  and  the  help  which  he  promised  me 
was  but  a  cheat  with  which  Athene  cheated 
me.  Zeus  and  Apollo  are  with  me  no  more ; 
but  if  I  must  die,  let  me  at  least  die  in  such 
a  deed  as  men  of  after  time  may  hear  of." 

So  he  spake,  and  drew  the .  mighty  sword 
that  hung  by  his  side :  then  as  an  eagle  rushes 
through  the  clouds  to  pounce  on  a  leveret  or 
a  lamb,  he  rushed  on  the  great  Achilles.  But 
he  dealt  never  a  blow ;  for  Achilles  charged 
to  meet  him,  his  shield  before  his  breast,  his 
helmet  bent  forward  as  he  ran,  with  the  long 
plumes  streaming  behind,  and  the  gleam  of  his 
spear-point  was  as  the  gleam  of  the  evening 
star,  which  is  the  fairest  of  all  the  stars  in 
heaven.  One  moment  he  thought  where  he 
should  drive  it  home,  for  the  armour  which 
Hector  had  won  from  Patroclus  guarded  him 


2/0  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

well ;  but  one  spot  there  was,  where  by  the 
collar-bone  the  neck  joins  the  shoulder  (and 
nowhere  is  the  stroke  of  sword  or  spear  more 
deadly).  There  he  drave  in  the  spear,  and  the 
point  stood  out  behind  the  neck,  and  Hector 
fell  in  the  dust. 

Then  Achilles  cried  aloud :  "  Hector,  thou 
thoughtest  in  the  day  when  thou  didst  spoil 
Patroclus  of  his  arms  that  thou  wouldst  be 
safe  from  vengeance,  taking,  forsooth,  no  ac- 
count of  me.  And  lo !  thou  art  fallen  before 
me,  and  now  the  dogs  and  vultures  shall 
devour  thee,  but  to  him  all  the  Greeks  shall 
give  due  burial." 

But  Hector,  growing  faint,  spake  to  him  : 
"  Nay,  great  Achilles,  by  thy  life,  and  by  thy 
knees,  and  by  thy  parents  dear,  I  pray  thee, 
let  not  the  dogs  of  the  Greeks  devour  me. 
Take  rather  the  ransom,  gold  and  bronze,  that 
my  father  and  mother  shall  pay  thee,  and  let 
the  sons  and  daughters  of  Troy  give  me  burial 
rites." 

But  Achilles  scowled  at  him,  and  cried : 
"  Dog,  seek  not  to  entreat  me  !  I  could  mince 
that  flesh  of  thine  and  devour  it  raw,  such  grief 


&' 


THE  SLAYING   OF  HECTOR.  2/1 

hast  thou  wrought  me.  Surely  the  dogs  shall 
devour  thee,  nor  shall  any  man  hinder.  No 
ransom,  though  it  were  ten  times  told,  should 
buy  thee  back  ;  no,  not  though  Priam  should 
offer  thy  weight  in  gold." 

Then  Hector,  who  was  now  at  the  point  to 
die,  spake  to  him  :  "  I  know  thee  well,  what 
manner  of  man  thou  art,  that  the  heart  in  thy 
breast  is  iron  only.  Only  beware  lest  some 
vengeance  from  the  gods  come  upon  thee  in 
the  day  when  Paris  and  Apollo  shall  slay  thee, 
for  all  thy  valour,  by  the  Scaean  gates." 

So  speaking,  he  died.  But  Achilles  said, 
"'_Die,  hound  ;  but  my  fate  I  meet  when  Zeus 
and  the  other  gods  decree." 

Then  he  drew  his  spear  out  of  the  corpse,  and 
stripped  off  the  arms  ;  and  all  the  Greeks  came 
about  the  dead  man,  marvelling  at  his  stature 
and  beauty,  and  no  man  came  but  wounded  the 
dead  corpse."  And  one  would  say  to  another, 
"  Surely  this  Hector  is  less  dreadful  now  than 
in  the  day  when  he  would  burn  our  ships  with 
fire." 

Then  Achilles  devised  a  ruthless  thing  in  his 
heart.  He  pierced  the  ankle-bones  of  Hector, 


2/2  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

and  so  bound  the  body  with  thongs  of  ox-hide 
to  the  chariot,  letting  the  head  drag  behind, 
the  head  that  once  was  so  fair,  and  now  was_sp 
disfigured  in  the  dust.  So  he  dragged  Hector 
to  the  ships.  And  Priam  saw  him  from  the 
walls,  and  scarce  could  his  sons  keep  him  back, 
Lbut  that  he  should  go  forth  and  beg  the  body  j 
of  his  dear  son  from  him  who  had  slain  him. 
And  Hecuba,  his  mother,  also  bewailed  him, 
but  Andromache  knew  not  as  yet  of  what  had 
befallen.  For  she  sat  in  her  dwelling,  wearing 
a  great  purple  mantle  broidered  with  flowers. 
And  she  bade  her  maidens  make  ready  a  bath 
for  Hector,  when  he  should  come  back  from  the 
battle,  nor  knew  that  he  should  never  need  it 
more.  But  the  voice  of  wailing  from  the  town 
came  to  her,  and  she  rose  up  hastily  in  great 
fear,  and  dropped  the  shuttle  from  her  hand, 
and  called  to  her  maidens :  — 

"  Come  with  me,  ye  maidens,  that  I  may  see 
what  has  befallen,  for  I  heard  the  voice  of 
Queen  Hecuba,  and  I  fear  me  much  that  some 
evil  has  come  to  the  children  of  Priam.  For 
it  may  be  that  Achilles  has  run  between  Hec- 
tor and  the  city,  and  is  pursuing  him  to  the 


THE  SLAYING   OF  HECTOR.  2? 3 

plain,  for   never  will    Hector  abide  with    the 

army,  but  will  fight  in  the  front,  so  bold  is  he." 
.  Then  she  hasted  through  the  city  like  as  she 

were  mad.  And  when  she  came  to  the  wall, 
jshe  stood  and  looked ;  and  lo  !  the  horses  of 

^Achilles  were  dragging    Hector  to  the  ships. 

Then  did  darkness  come  on  her,  and  she  fell 
(  back  fainting,  and  from  her  fair  head  dropped 
Liliejiet  and  the  wreath  and  the  diadem  which 

golden  Aphrodite  gave  her  on  the  day  when 

Hector  of  the  waving  plume  took  her  from  the 

house  of  Eetion  to  be  his  wife. 


2/4  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

THE    BURNING    OF    PATROCLUS. 

WHILE  the  Trojans  mourned  for  Hector  in 
the  city,  the  Greeks  went  back  to  the  camp. 
All  the  others  were  scattered,  each  to  his  own 
ship,  but  Achilles  spake  to  the  Myrmidons, 
saying,  "  Loose  not  your  horses  from  the  yoke, 
but  let  us  do  honour  to  Patroclus,  driving  our 
chariots  round  the  dead,  and  making  lamenta- 
tion the  while." 

Then  the  Myrmidons  did  as  he  had  bidden 
them ;  thrice  round  the  dead  they  drave  their 
chariots,  and  made  lamentation ;  and  Achilles 
led  the  mourning.  Also  he  laid  the  body  of 
Hector  in  the  dust  beside  the  dead.  After  that 
he  made  a  funeral  feast  for  his  people.  He 
himself  was  brought  by  the  chiefs,  much  against 
his  will,  to  King  Agamemnon,  who  had  made  a 
great  feast  for  the  leaders  of  the  Greeks.  But 
when  the  heralds  heated  water  in  a  caldron, 
and  would  have  had  him  wash  off  the  blood, 


THE  BURNING   OF  PATROCLUS.  2?$ 

he  refused,  saying :  "  Nay ;  water  shall  not 
come  nigh  me  till  I  have  laid  Patroclus  on 
the  fire,  and  heaped  a  mound  over  him.  Now 
let  us  eat  our  meal,  though  it  be  in  sorrow ;  to- 
morrow we  will  pay  due  honour  to  the  dead." 

So  they  ate  and  drank ;  and  when  they  had 
had  enough,  the  others  lay  down  to  sleep,  each 
in  his  own  tent,  but  Achilles  lay  groaning  heav- 
ily amidst  the  Myrmidons  in  an  open  place  by 
the  sea. 

While  he  slept,  the  shade  of  Patroclus  stood 
above  his  head.  The  very  same  was  he  in 
stature,  and  voice,  and  height,  yea,  even  in  the 
garments  that  he  wore.  The  spirit  spake,  say- 
ing :  "  Sleepest  thou,  Achilles,  and  forgettest 
_me  ?  Bury  me  speedily,  for  the  spirits  of  the 
dead  suffer  me  not  to  be  with  them,  but Jjwan- 
der  alone  in  Hades.  And  give  me  now  thine 
hand,  for  never  shall  we  two  sit  apart  and  hold 
counsel  together,  for  I  shall  come  again  no 
jtpore  from  the  dead  after  that  the  fire  hath 
,. consumed  me.  Lay  also  thy  bones  with  mine, 
that  we  may  be  together,  even  as  when  we 
grew  together,  thou  a  lad  and  I  a  lad,  in  thy 
father's  hall." 


276  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

Then  Achilles  stretched  out  his  hands,  but 
caught  not  the  ghost,  for  it  fled  as  a  smoke 
flieth. 

The  next  day  they  made  a  great  pile  of 
wood,  and  laid  the  dead  man  thereon.  Nine 
dogs  had  the  Prince,  and  Achilles  slew  two  of 
them  on  the  pile,  and  four  horses  he  slew,  and 
also  the  twelve  youths  of  Troy  whom  he  had 
taken  at  the  river.  Then  he  set  fire  to  the 
pile,  saying :  "  Hear,  Patroclus  ;  twelve  of  the 
sons  of  Troy  doth  the  fire  devour  with  thee ; 
but  Hector  will  I  give  to  the  dogs." 

And  when  the  burning  was  well-nigh  ended, 
Achilles  spake,  saying :  "  Quench  ye  the  fire 
that  yet  remains  with  wine,  and  gather  the 
bones  of  Patroclus  together  where  they  lie 
apart  in  the  midst  of  the  pile,  and  put  them 
in  an  urn  of  gold  against  the  day  of  my  death. 
And  make  over  them  a  tomb  not  over  large ; 
but  when  I  am  dead  also,  then  shall  ye  that 
are  left  make  it  higher,  as  is  meet." 

And  when  all  these  things  were  ended, 
Achilles,  willing  to  do  all  honour  to  the  dead 
man,  would  have  games,  wherein  the  chiefs 
should  contend  one  with  the  other.  So,  hav- 


THE  BURNING   OF  PATROCLUS.  2/7 

ing  called  the  people  together,  he  brought 
forth  out  his  ships  many  things  that  should  be 
for  prizes,  —  caldrons,  kettles  of  bronze,  and 
horses  and  mules,  and  fair  women-slaves,  and 
iron. 

_First,  he  would  have  a  contest  of  chariots 
and  Jhorses,  for  which  he  set  forth  three  prizes : 
For  the  first,  a  woman-slave,  skilled  in  all  the 
works  of  the  loom,  and  with  her  a  kettle  of 
bronze  with  three  feet,  of  twenty  and  two 
measures;  and  for  the  second,  a  mare  of  six 
years  old;  and  for  the  third,  a  kettle  of  bronze, 
of  four  measures,  fair  and  new;  and  for  the 
fourth,  two  talents  of  gold ;  and  for  the  fifth,  a 
double  cup;  then  he  stood  up  in  the  midst, 
and  spake :  "  Ye  men  of  Greece,  behold  these 
prizes,  which  I  have  set  in  the  midst  for  a  race 
of  chariots.  Now  know  ye  that  if  we  were 
doing  honour  to  another  than  Patroclus,  I  my- 
self should  carry  the  first  prize  to  my  tent,  for 
there  are  not  in  the  camp  horses  such  as  mine ; 
and,  indeed,  they  are  not  of  mortal  breed,  but 
Poseidon  gave  them  to  Peleus,  my  father. 
But  from  this  race  I  stand  apart,  and  they 
also;  for  he  that  drave  them  is  dead,  whom 


2/8  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

they  loved ;  therefore  they  stand  grieving  sore, 
and  their  manes  droop  to  the  ground.  But 
contend  together  ye  that  will."  Then  stood 
up  five  chiefs ;  first  of  all,  Eumelus,  who  was 
the  son  of  Admetus,  and  Alcestis  his  wife,  and 
next  to  him  Diomed,  having  horses  of  Troy, 
which  he  took  from  .^Eneas  (but  ^Eneas  him- 
self Apollo  delivered  from  death);  and  third, 
Menelaus,  driving  his  horse  Whitefoot,  and  a 
mare,  Flash-of-Fire,  which  Echepolus  of  Sic- 
yon  gave  to  King  Agamemnon,  that  he  might 
not  sail  to  Troy,  but  might  tarry  at  home,  for 
he  was  very  rich.  Fourth  came  Antilochus, 
son  of  Nestor  of  Pylos,  and  after  him  Meriones. 
Then  said  Nestor,  the  old  man,  to  Antil- 
ochus :  u  My  son,  the  gods  have  given  thee 
skill  in  driving,  wherefore  there  is  small  need 
to  teach  thee.  But  thy  horses  are  not  swift 
as  those  with  whom  thou  contendest,  and  I 
fear  much  that  thou  wilt  suffer  defeat.  Yet 
may  counsel  avail  much,  by  which  others  also, 
as  woodmen  and  pilots,  excel.  For  one  man, 
trusting  in  his  chariot  and  his  horses,  that 
they  are  good,  suffereth  them  to  stray  over 
the  plain ;  but  another  looketh  ever  unto  the 


THE  BURNING   OF  PATROCLUS.  279 

turning-post,  that  he  go  not  far  from  it,  and 
holdeth  well  the  reins  and  watcheth  him  that 
is  before.  And  now  heed  what  I  say.  There 
is  a  stump  of  a  tree,  a  fathom  high,  and  by  it 
two  white  stones,  the  tomb  of  some  man  of  old, 
or  may  be  a  boundary.  There  hath  Achilles 
set  the  point  of  turning.  To  this  keep  thou 
as  close  as  may  be,  leaning  thyself  to  the  left 
in  thy  chariot.  And  thy  off  horse  thou  must 
smite  with  the  goad  and  shout  to  him,  loosing 
the  rein,  but  the  near  thou  must  press  close  to 
the  stump,  till  the  nave  of  the  wheel  be  close  to 
it ;  but  touch  not  the  stones,  lest  thou  frighten 
thy  horses  and  break  thy  chariot.  And  be  sure 
that  if  thou  art  first  here,  no  man  shall  pass 
thee  afterwards,  not  though  he  drave  Arion, 
which  was  the  horse  of  Adrastus,  or  the  horses 
of  King  Laomedon." 

After  this  they  drew  lots  for  their  places. 
And  the  first  lot  fell  to  Antilochus,  and  after 
him  came  Eumelus,  and  Menelaiis,  and  Meri- 
ones,  and  Diomed,  in  this  order.  Then 
Achilles  marked  the  course,  making  old  Phoe- 
nix the  judge.  After  this  the  race  began,  and 
the  men  lifted  their  whips  and  smote  their 


280  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

horses,  and  shouted  also.  And  the  dust  rose 
up  beneath  the  horses'  breasts,  and  their  manes 
were  blown  by  the  wind,  and  the  chariots  were 
seen  now  low  upon  the  earth  and  now  high  in 
the  air.  But  when  they  were  come  near  to  the 
end  of  the  course  at  the  turning-point,  it  might 
be  seen  which  steeds  were  the  better.  For 
the  horses  of  Eumelus  were  foremost,  and  next 
to  these  the  horses  of  King  Diomed,  very  close, 
so  that  they  seemed  about  to  step  upon  the 
chariot  that  was  before  them,  and  the  back 
and  broad  shoulders  of  Eumelus  were  hot 
with  breath,  their  heads  being  close  upon  him. 
And,  indeed,  Diomed  had  now  passed  him,  or 
been  equal  in  the  race,  but  Apollo  grudged 
him  the  victory, — for  the  god  loved  him  not, — 
and  struck  the  whip  out  of  his  hand.  Very 
wroth  was  Diomed,  and  his  eyes  were  filled 
with  tears,  that  his  horses  should  thus  lack 
control.  But  Athene  saw  the  thing  and  had 
pity  on  him,  and  gave  him  back  the  whip,  and 
put  strength  into  his  horses.  Also  she  went 
near  to  the  son  of  Admetus,  and  brake  the 
yoke  of  his  chariot,  so  that  the  pole  smote 
upon  the  ground,  and  the  man  himself  was 


THE  BURNING   OF  PATROCLUS.  281 

thrown  down,  having  his  elbows  and  mouth 
and  nostrils  sorely  bruised,  and  a  wound  on 
his  forehead  over  the  eyebrows.  Then  did 
Diomed  take  the  first  place  with  his  chariot, 
and  next  to  him  came  Menelalis.  But  Antil- 
ochus  cried  to  his  horses,  saying:  "Now 
speed  ye  as  best  ye  can.  I  bid  you  not  strive 
with  the  horses  of  King  Diomed,  for  Athene 
giveth  them  swiftness  and  strength ;  but  the 
horses  of  Menelalis  ye  can  overtake.  It  were 
a  shame  to  you  that  Flame-of-Fire,  being  a 
mare,  should  surpass  you.  Nay,  hear  me.  If 
ye  be  worsted  in  this,  to  Nestor  ye  shall  not 
return,  for  I  will  slay  you  here  with  my  sword." 
And  the  horses  feared  the  fury  of  the 
Prince,  and  leapt  forward.  Now  Antilochus 
had  spied  a  narrow  place  in  the  way,  where  it 
had  been  broken  by  the  floods  in  the  winter; 
and  as  Menelalis  drove  his  chariot  thereby, 
Antilochus,  turning  a  little  out  of  the  way, 
sought  to  pass  at  the  same  time.  Now  there 
was  not  space  sufficient  for  two  chariots,  and 
Menelalis  feared,  and  cried :  "  Why  drivest 
thou  so  madly,  Antilochus  ?  Stay  awhile,  and 
thou  canst  pass  me  if  thou  wilt,  where  the  way 


282  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

is  broader ;  but  now  thou  wilt  hurt  thy  chariot 
and  mine."  But  Antilochus  drave  the  more 
furiously,  making  as  though  he  heard  not. 
And  for  the  space  of  a  quoit's  throw  the 
chariots  were  abreast,  but  then  Menelalis  held 
back,  fearing  lest  they  should  clash  together. 
But  he  cried  to  Antilochus :  "  Was  there  ever 
man  so  evil-minded  as  thou  ?  Yet  shalt  thou 
not  win  this  prize  unless  thou  shalt  forswear 
thyself  that  thou  hast  dealt  fairly."  And  to 
his  horses  cried :  "  Speed  ye  !  Stand  not  still ; 
ye  shall  overtake  them,  for  they  will  grow 
weary  before  you." 

In  the  meantime  the  Greeks  sat  waiting  till 
the  chariots  should  come  back.  And  Idome- 
neus  of  Crete  espied  them  first,  for  he  sate 
apart  from  the  crowd,  where  the  ground  was 
higher.  Then  he  said,  —  for  he  noted  one 
horse  that  was  bay,  with  a  great  circle  of  white, 
like  unto  the  moon,  upon  his  forehead,  — "  Do 
ye  also  see  these  chariots,  men  of  Greece  ? 
For  surely  the  order  is  changed,  and  he  is  not 
foremost  that  was  so,  but  some  mishap  hath 
befallen  him  on  the  way.  But  it  may  be  that 
my  eyes  see  not  as  well  as  they  were  wont. 


THE  BURNING   OF  PATROCLUS.  283 

Look  ye,  therefore ;  for  I  know  not  who 
cometh  first,  yet  do  I  think  that  it  is  Diomed, 
son  of  Tydeus." 

Then  spoke  Ajax  Oileus,  swift  of  foot: 
"  Why  talkest  thou  thus  idly,  and  before  the 
time?  Thou  art  not  the  youngest  among 
the  Greeks,  nor  thine  eyes  the  keenest.  The 
horses  are  yet  foremost  that  were  at  the  first, 
and  the  charioteer  is  Eumelus." 

Then  Idomeneus,  in  great  wrath,  made 
reply:  "Ajax,  thou  art  ready  to  strive  and 
fierce  of  speech,  for  in  naught  else  dost  thou 
excel.  Come,  let  us  wager  a  kettle  of  bronze 
or  a  caldron,  and  Agamemnon  shall  judge. 
So  when  thou  payest  thou  wilt  learn  wisdom." 

But  when  Ajax  would  have  answered  him 
again,  Achilles  suffered  him  not,  but  made 
peace  between  them.  Then  came  in  Diomed 
first  of  all,  and  leapt  from  the  chariot;  and 
next  to  him  Antilochus,  having  surpassed 
Menelalis  by  craft  and  not  by  speed ;  nor, 
indeed,  was  Menelaus  far  behind,  being  as  near 
to  him  as  a  chariot  is  near  to  the  horse  which 
draweth  it,  so  swift  was  the  mare  Flame-of- 
Fire,  for  at  the  first  he  had  been  a  whole 


284  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

quoit's  throw  behind.  But  Meriones  was  van- 
quished by  the  flight  of  a  spear,  for  his  horses 
were  the  slowest,  and  he  himself  less  skilled  to 
drive.  Last  of  all  came  Eumelus,  drawing  his 
chariot,  and  driving  his  horses  before  him. 
And  Achilles  pitied  him,  and  said :  "  The 
most  skilful  cometh  last.  Surely  he  shall  have 
the  second  prize." 

And  the  Greeks  gave  consent;  but  Antil- 
ochus  cried  aloud :  "  Wilt  thou  take  away  this 
prize  from  me  because  his  chariot  was  broken  ? 
Had  he  prayed  to  the  gods,  this  had  not 
happened.  But  if  thou  pitiest  him,  give  him 
somewhat  of  thine  own.  As  for  this  prize,  no 
man  taketh  it  from  me  but  by  arms." 

And  Achilles  laughed  and  said :  "  'Tis  well 
said,  Antilochus.  I  will  give  him  of  mine  own, 
even  a  breastplate  which  Asteropasus  wore." 

Then  stood  up  Menelaiis,  in  great  wrath, 
and  said :  "  What  is  this  that  thou  hast  done, 
Antilochus?  For  thou  hast  shamed  me  and 
my  horses,  putting  thine  own  in  front,  which 
are,  of  a  truth,  much  worse  than  they.  Judge, 
therefore,  between  us,  ye  chiefs  of  the  Greeks. 
And  thou,  Antilochus,  stand  before  thy  chariot 


THE  BURNING    OF  PATROCLUS.  285 

and  thy  horses,  as  the  custom  is,  holding  in 
one  hand  thy  whip,  and  laying  the  other  hand 
on  thine  horses,  and  swear  by  Poseidon  that 
thou  didst  not  hinder  my  chariot  by  fraud." 

To  him  Antilochus  made  reply :  "  Bear  with 
me,  Menelaiis,  for  I  am  younger  than  thou,  and 
thou  knowest  how  young  men  go  astray,  for 
their  judgment  is  hasty  and  their  wit  small. 
And  as  for  the  mare,  I  give  it  thee,  and  aught 
else  that  thou  desirest,  rather  than  that  I  should 
be  at  strife  with  thee  or  sin  against  the  gods." 

And  the  soul  of  Menelaiis  was  glad,  as  the 
corn  is  glad  when  the  dew  falleth  upon  it ;  and 
he  said :  "  This  is  well  said,  son  of  Nestor. 
And  now  —  for  thy  father  and  thy  brother 
have  borne  much  for  my  sake  —  I  give  thee 
this  mare." 

And  he  himself  took  the  kettle  of  bronze, 
and  the  fourth  prize  Meriones  had;  but  the 
double  cup  Achilles  gave  to  old  Nestor,  saying : 
"  Take  this  to  be  a  memorial  of  the  burial  of 
Patroclus,  whom  thou  wilt  not  see  any  more. 
For  I  know  that  old  age  hinders  thee,  that 
thou  canst  not  contend  in  wrestling  or  boxing 
with  the  rest." 


286  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

And  the  old  man  gave  him  thanks,  and  told 
what  marvellous  things  he  had  done  in  his 
youth  ;  that  no  man  had  vanquished  him  in 
wrestling,  or  in  boxing,  or  in  the  race,  or  in 
casting  the  spear ;  only  in  the  chariot-race  he 
had  been  surpassed,  and  that  by  craft,  for  the 
two  sons  of  Actor  rode  together,  and  one  held 
the  reins  and  the  other  plied  the  whip. 

After  this  Achilles  set  forth  two  prizes  for 
boxers :  for  the  conqueror  a  mule,  and  for  him 
that  should  be  vanquished  a  cup  with  two 
mouths.  Then  stood  up  Epelis,  the  son  of 
Panopeus,  and  spake:  "Who  desireth  to  take 
this  cup  ?  for  the  mule  no  man  but  I  shall 
have.  In  battle  I  am  weak  —  for  what  man 
can  do  all  things  ?  —  but  whosoever  shall  stand 
against  me  to-day,  verily,  I  will  tear  his  flesh 
and  break  his  bones,  so  that  his  friends  had 
best  be  at  hand  to  carry  him  away." 

Then  there  rose  up  against  him  Euryalus, 
son  of  Mecisteus,  a  man  of  Argos.  King 
Diomed  stood  by  him,  wishing  much  that  he 
might  prevail,  and  brought  him  his  girdle  that 
he  might  gird  himself,  and  gave  him  the  great 
gloves  of  bull's  hide.  Then  the  two  stood 


THE  BURNING   OF  PATROCLUS.  287 

together  in  the  midst.  Many  blows  did  they 
deal  to  each  other,  so  that  the  noise  was  dread- 
ful to  hear,  and  the  sweat  ran  down  from  them. 
But  after  a  while  Epelis  sprang  forward  and 
smote  Euryalus  on  the  jaw,  even  through  his 
guard,  and  Euryalus  could  not  stand  against 
him  ;  but  even  as  a  fish  is  dashed  by  the  north 
wind  against  the  shore,  so  was  he  dashed  to  the 
earth.  But  Epeiis  raised  him  up,  and  his  com- 
panions led  him  away,  sorely  wounded  and 
amazed. 

After  this  Achilles  would  have  a  match  of 
wrestling,  saying  that  the  conqueror  should 
have  a  great  kettle  of  bronze,  of  twelve  oxen's 
worth,  and  the  vanquished  a  woman-slave, 
skilful  at  the  loom,  worth  four  oxen.  _Then 
stood  up  Ajax  the  Greater  and  Ulysses,  and 
took  hold  of  one  another  with  their  hands,  and 
strove  together  for  the  mastery.  But  after  a 
while,  when  neither  could  prevail,  and  the 
people  were  weary  with  looking,  Ajax  spake, 
saying :  "  Come,  Ulysses ;  thou  shalt  lift  me 
from  the  ground  if  thou  canst,  and  I  thee.  So 
shall  we  finish  this  matter."  Then  Ajax  laid 
hold  of  Ulysses  to  lift  him  ;  and  this  he  had 


288  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

done,  but  Ulysses  used  craft,  as  was  his  wont, 
and  put  forth  his  leg  and  smote  Ajax  on  the 
sinew  behind  the  knee,  so  that  he  fell,  and 
Ulysses  also  above  him.  Then  Ulysses  would 
have  lifted  Ajax  from  the  ground ;  a  little  space 
he  moved  him,  but  lifted  him  not,  and  his  knee 
yielded  beneath  him,  and  they  fell  to  the  ground, 
both  of  them.  But  when  they  would  have 
striven  the  third  time,  Achilles  hindered  them, 
saying :  "  Hold  !  it  is  enough.  Ye  are  con- 
querers  both,  and  your  prizes  shall  be  equal" 
Next  to  this  was  a  trial  of  racers  on  foot,  in 
which  three  contended,  Ajax  the  Less,  and 
Ulysses,  and  Antilochus.  Three  also  were  the 
prizes ;  first  of  all,  a  great  mixing-bowl  of 
silver;  six  measures  it  held,  nor  was  there 
aught  fairer  upon  earth.  In  Sidon  was  it 
wrought,  and  Phoenician  merchants  brought 
it  over  the  sea  and  gave  it  King  Thoas;  and 
Euneus,  who  was  son  of  Hypsipyle,  daughter 
to  Thoas,  gave  it  to  Patroclus  to  be  a  ransom 
of  Lycaon,  son  of  King  Priam.  And  for  the 
second  winner  was  a  well-fattened  ox,  and  for 
the  third  half  a  talent  of  gold.  From  the 
point  where  the  chariots  had  turned  in  the 


yv/A    '  wit 


THE  BURNING   OF  PATROCLUS.  289 

race  they  ran,  and  in  a  short  space  Ajax  the 
Less  was  foremost,  with  Ulysses  close  upon 
him,  close  as  is  the  shuttle  to  the  breast  of  a 
woman  who  stands  at  the  loom  and  weaves. 
Hard  behind  him  he  ran,  treading  in  his  steps 
before  the  dust  could  rise  from  them.  And 
when  they  were  now  drawing  to  the  end  of 
the  course  Ulysses  prayed  to  Athene  that  she 
should  help  him,  and  Athene  heard  him,  and 
made  his  knees  and  feet  right  nimble,  and  even 
/  at  the  very  end  she  caused  that  Ajax  slipped 
in  the  fiTtPTwhere  certain  oxen  had  been  slain, 
so  that  his  mouth  and  nostrils  were  filled  with 
it.  So  Ulysses  gained  the  mixing-bowl;  but 
Ajax  stood  and  spat  the  filth  from  his  mouth, 
and  laid  his  hand  on  the  head  of  the  ox,  and 
cried,  "  Surely  the  goddess  caused  my  feet  to 
slip,  for  she  ever  standeth,  by  Ulysses,  and 
helpeth  him  as  a  mother  helpeth  a  child." 

So  he  spake,  and  all  men  laughed  to  hear 
him  ;  and  last  of  all  came  Antilochus,  taking 
the  third  prize.  And  he  said  :  "  Ye  know  well, 
my  friends,  that  the  immortal  gods  ever  help 
the  aged.  As  for  Ajax,  he  is  but  a  little  older 
than  I,  but  Ulysses  is  of  another  generation. 

T 


2QO  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

Yet  is  his  verily  a  green  old  age ;  hardly  may 
any  of  the  Greeks  strive  with  him,  but  only 
Achilles  himself." 

This  was  Achilles  well  pleased  to  hear,  and 
said :  "  Thou  shalt  not  praise  me  in  vain, 
Antilochus.  Take  now  another  half  lajent 
to  thy  half." 

And  he  gave  him  the  gold,  and  Antilochus 
took  it,  and  was  glad. 

Then  did  Achilles  set  in  the  midst  a  long- 
shafted  spear,  and  a  shield,  and  a  helmet.  The 
arms  of  Sarpedon  they  were,  which  Patroclus 
had  taken  from  him  on  the  plain  of  Troy,  in 
the  day  wherein  he  also  had  been  slain.  And 
he  spake,  saying :  "  Now  let  two  chiefs,  such 
as  are  the  bravest  among  the  men  of  Greece, 
come  forth  and  fight  for  the  mastery,  having 
armed  themselves  as  if  for  the  battle.  And  it 
shall  be  that  he  who  shall  first  pierce  the  skin 
of  him  that  standeth  against  him  shall  have 
the  victory.  To  him  will  I  give  this  sword, 
with  studs  of  silver,  fair  work  of  Thrace,  which 
I  took  from  the  great  Asteropaeus.  As  for 
these  arms,  the  two  shall  divide  them.  Also 
to  both  will  I  give  a  great  banquet  in  my  tent." 


c 

THE  BURNING   OF  PATROCLUS.  261 


Then  stood  up  to  contend  together  .Ajax, 
the  son  of  Telamon,  and  Diomed,  son  of 
Tydeus.  Three  times  did  they  charge  each 
other ;  and  Ajax  drave  his  spear  through  Dio- 
med's  shield,  but  the  skin  he  touched  not,  for 
the  breastplate  hindered  him.  But  Diomed 
smote  with  his  spear  over  the  edge  of  the 
shield  at  the  neck  of  Ajax.  Then  were  the 
Greeks  sore  afraid  for  the  hero,  and  cried  out 
that  the  battle  should  cease,  and  that  the  two 
should  have  equal  rewards.  Nevertheless,  the 
victory  was  counted  to  Diomed,  and  Achilles 
gave  him  the  sword  with  the  scabbard,  and 
also  the  belt  thereof. 

Then  took  Achilles  a  great  weight  of  iron 
for  a  quoit,  which  had  been  King  Eetion's,  who 
was  the  father  of  Andromache,  Hector's  wife. 
And  he  said :  "  He  who  shall  cast  this  the  far- 
thest shall  have  it  for  his  own.  And,  verily, 
he  that  hath  it,  though  his  field  be  very  wide, 
shall  not  lack  for  iron.  Five  years  shall  it  last, 
so  that  neither  shepherd  nor  ploughman  shall 
have  need  to  go  to  the  town  to  buy. 

Then  there  rose  up  to  contend  Polypoetes, 
who  was  of  the  race  of  the  Lapithae,  and  Leon- 


2Q2  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

teus,  his  comrade,  also  Ajax,  the  son  of  Tela- 
mon,  and  Epeiis.  And  first  Epelis  cast  it,  and 
all  the  Greeks  laughed,  for  he  cast  it  not  far,  for 
all  that  he  was  so  strong ;  and  after  him  Leon- 
teus  made  trial  of  it,  and  next  Ajax,  overpassing 
the  marks  of  them  that  had  gone  before.  But 
when  Polypoetes  stood  up,  lo !  he  cast  it  as  far 
beyond  the  others  as  a  herdsman  flings  his 
staff  among  his  herd.  And  all  the  ,people 
shouted,  and  the  comrades  of  Polypoetes  rose 
up  and  bare  the  prize  to  the  ships. 

And  after  this  the  archers  contended  to- 
gether, and  the  prize  for  the  first  was  ten  axes 
of  iron,  with  an  edge  on  either  side ;  and  for 
the  second  ten  axes  also,  but  having  one  edge 
only.  Now  the  two  that  strove  were  Teucer, 
who  was  the  brother  of  Ajax  the  Greater,  and 
Meriones,  who  was  the  comrade  of  King  Idom- 
eneus  of  Crete.  The  mark  that  was  set  for 
them  was  the  mast  of  a  ship  which  Achilles 
had  set  up  far  off  in  the  sands  by  the  sea,  to 
the  top  whereof  he  had  bound  a  wood-dove, 
having  a  cord  about  its  foot.  And  the  lot  fell 
to  Teucer  that  he  should  shoot  the  first,  and 
he  shot,  drawing  the  bow  mightily;  but  he 


BURNING   OF  PATROCLUS.  293 

prayed  not  to  Apollo,  nor  vowed  that  he  would 
offer  to  him  a  sacrifice  of  a  hundred  lambs. 
The  bird  he  hit  not,  for  this  Apollo  gave  not  to 
him;  but  he  smote  the  cord  wherewith  the 
dove  was  bound,  and  divided  it;  and  the  bird 
flew  into  the  air,  and  the  Greeks  clapped  their 
hands  to  see  it.  Then  did  Meriones  take  the 
bow  from  his  hand, — for  they  shot  with  the 
same,  the  two  of  them,  —  and  the  arrow  he  had 
made  ready  before  against  his  turn.  Also  he 
vowed  a  sacrifice  of  a  hundred  lambs  to  King 
Apollo.  Then  he  beheld,  and  lo!  the  dove 
was  very  high  in  the  clouds  above  his  head,  and 
he  shot,  and  the  arrow  smote  it  under  the  wing 
as  it  wheeled  in  the  air,  and  passed  right 
through  it.  Before  the  feet  of  the  archer  fell 
the  arrow,  and  the  bird  lighted  on  the  mast. 
Then  speedily  it  died,  so  that  it  fell  upon  the 
ground.  So  Meriones  took  the  double-edged 
axes,  and  Teucer  them  that  had  one  edge  only. 
Then  there  was  a  contest  of  throwing  the 
spear ;  and  the  prize  was  a  long-shafted  spear, 
and  a  caldron  that  had  never  felt  the  fire,  of 
the  worth  of  an  ox.  For  this  there  stood  up 
King  Agamemnon  and  Meriones,  who  was  the 


294  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

comrade  of  King  Idomeneus.  But  when 
Achilles  saw  the  two,  he  spake,  saying :  "  King 
Agamemnon,  all  men  know  that  thou  excellest 
in  strength.  Take  thou  this  prize  for  thyself ; 
and,  if  thou  wilt,  we  will  give  a  spear  to  Meri- 


ones." 


And  the  saying  pleased  King  Agamemnon. 
So  the  Games  of  Patroclus  were  ended ;  and 
the  people  were  scattered  to  the  ships,  and  sat 
down  to  eat  and  drink;  and  afterwards  they 
slept.  But  Achilles  slept  not,  for  he  remem- 
bered his  dear  Patroclus,  and  all  that  the  two 
had  done  and  endured  together,  journeying 
over  sea  and  land,  and  standing  against  the 
enemy  in  the  day  of  battle. 


THE  RANSOMING   OF  HECTOR.  295 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 

THE    RANSOMING    OF    HECTOR. 

WHEN  the  burial  of  Patroclus  was  ended,  the 
held  council  about  Hector,  for  Achilles 
despite  to  the  body  of  Hector,  dragging  it  , 
about  the  tomb  of  his  friend,  but  the  gods  had 
pity  on  the  dead  man,  because  in  his  life  he 
had  ever  honoured  them. 

Then  did  Zeus  send  for  Thetis,  and  when 
she  was  come  to  Olympus,  he  said :  "  Get  thee  \ 
to  the  camp,  and  bid  thy  son  give  up  Hector 
for  ransom,  for  I  am  wroth  with  him  because  J 

— --, ,.,u, -,IL_  _-wrj-im-*rtni--j n. -j_t-_  __  -jxi— "1"J^' — 

doth  despite  to  the  dead." 
So  Thetis  went  to  Achilles,  and  found  him 
weeping  softly  for  his  dead  friend,  for  the 
strength  of  his  sorrow  was  now  spent,  and  she 
said  to  him :  "  It  is  the  will  of  the  gods 
that  thou  give  up  the  body  of  Hector,  and 
take  in  exchange  the  ransom  of  gold  and 
precious  things  which  his  father  will  give  thee 
for  him," 


296  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

And  her  son  answered,  "Be  it  so,  if  the 
gods  will  have  it." 

Then  Zeus  sent  Iris,  who  was  his  messenger, 
to  King  Priam,  where  he  sat  with  his  face 
wrapped  in  his  mantle,  and  his  sons  weeping 
about  him,  and  his  daughters  wailing  through 
the  chambers  of  his  palace. 

Then  Iris  spake :  "  Be  of  good  cheer,  Priam, 

son  of  Dardanus;  Zeus  has  sent  me  to  thee. 

|  Go,  taking  with  thee  such  gifts  as  may  best 

please  the  heart  of  Achilles,  and  bring  back 

1  the  body  of  thy  dear  son  Hector.     Go  without 

fear  of  death  or  harm,  and  go  alone.     Only  let 

an  aged  herald  be  with  thee,  to  help  thee  when 

thou  bringest  back  the  body  of  the  dead." 

Then  Priam  rose  with  joy,  and  bade  his  sons 
bring  forth  his  chariot ;  but  first  he  went  to 
his  chamber,  and  called  to  Hecuba,  his  wife, 
and  told  her  of  his  purpose,  nor  heeded  when 
she  sought  to  turn  him  from  it,  but  said : 
"  Seek  not  to  hold  me  back,  nor  be  a  bird  of 
evil  omen  in  my  house.  If  any  prophet  or 
seer  had  bidden  me  do  this  thing,  I  should 
have  held  it  a  deceit ;  but  now  have  I  heard 
the  very  voice  of  the  messenger  of  Zeus. 


THE  RANSOMING   OF  HECTOR.  297 

Wherefore,  I  shall  go.  And  if  I  die,  what 
care  I  ?  Let  Achilles  slay  me,  so  that  I  em- 
brace once  more  the  body  of  my  son." 

Then  he  bade  put  into  a  wagon  shawls  and 
mantles  that  had  never  been  washed,  and  rugs, 
and  cloaks,  and  tunics,  twelve  of  each,  and  ten 
talents  of  gold,  and  two  bright  three-footed 
caldrons,  and  four  basins,  and  a  cup  of  passing 
beauty  which  the  Thracians  had  given  him. 
The  old  man  spared  nothing  that  he  had,  if 
only  he  might  buy  back  his  son.  None  of  the 
Trojans  would  he  suffer  to  come  near  him. 
"  Begone,"  he  cried,  "  ye  cowards !  Have  ye 
nothing  to  wail  for  at  home,  that  ye  come  to 
wail  with  me  ?  Surely,  an  easy  prey  will  ye 
be  to  the  Greeks,  now  that  Hector  is  dead." 

Then  he  cried  with  like  angry  words  to  his 
sons,  Paris,  and  Agathon,  and  Dei'phobus,  and 
the  others  —  there  were  nine  of  them  in  all :  — 

"  Make  haste,  ye  evil  brood.  Would  that  ye 
all  had  died  in  the  room  of  Hectof.  Surely, 
an  ill-fated  father  am  I.  Many  a  brave  son  I 
had,  as  Mestor,  and  Troilus,  and  Hector,  who 
was  fairer  than  any  of  the  sons  of  men.  But 
all  these  are  gone,  and  only  the  cowards  are 


298  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

left,  masters  of  lying  words,  and  skilful  in  the 
dance,  and  mighty  to  drink  wine.  But  go, 
yoke  the  mules  to  the  wagon." 

So  they  yoked  the  mules  to  the  wagon. 
But  the  horses  for  his  chariot  Priam,  with  the 
herald,  yoked  himself. 

Then  Hecuba  came  near,  and  bade  a  wo- 
man-servant come  and  pour  water  on  his 
hands.  And  when  she  had  poured,  King 
Priam  took  a  great  cup  from  the  hands  of  his 
wife,  and  made  a  libation  to  Zeus,  and 
prayed  :  — 

"  Hear  me,  Father  Zeus,  and  grant  that 
Achilles  may  pity  me.  And  do  thou  send  me 
now  a  lucky  sign,  that  I  may  go  with  a  good 
heart  to  the  ships  of  the  Greeks." 

And  Zeus  heard  him,  and  sent  an  eagle,  a 
mighty  bird,  whose  wings  spread  out  on  either 
side  as  wide  as  is  the  door  of  some  spacious 
chamber  in  a  rich  man's  house.  On  his  right 
hand  it  flew  high  above  the  city,  and  all  re- 
joiced when  they  saw  the  sign. 

Then  the  old  man  mounted  his  chariot  in 
haste,  and  drove  forth  from  the  palace.  Before 
him  the  mules  drew  the  four-wheeled  wagon, 


THE  RANSOMING   OF  HECTOR.  299 

and  these  the  herald  Idaeus  guided.  But  his 
chariot  the  old  King  drove  himself.  And  all 
his  kinsfolk  went  with  him,  weeping  as  for  one 
who  was  going  to  his  death.  But  when  they 
came  down  from  the  city  to  the  plain,  Priam 
and  the  herald  went  towards  the  ships  of  the 
Greeks,  but  all  the  others  returned  to  Troy. 

But  Zeus  saw  him  depart,  and  said  to  Her- 
mes :  "  Hermes,  go  guide  King  Priam  to  the 
ships  of  the  Greeks,  so  that  no  m^fti  see  him 
before  he  comes  to  the  tents  of  Achilles." 

Then  Hermes  fastened  on  his  feet  the  fair 
sandals  of  gold  with  which  he  flies,  fast  as  the 
wind,  over  sea  and  land,  and  in  his  hand  he 
took  the  rod  with  which  he  opens  and  closes, 
as  he  wills,  the  eyes  of  men.  And  he  flew 
down  and  lighted  on  the  plain  of  Troy,  taking 
on  him  the  likeness  of  a  fair  youth. 

r— — - «_- ^._  » 

But  when  they  had  driven  past  the  great 
Tomb  of  Ilus,  they  stopped  the  horses  and  the 
mules,  to  let  them  drink  of  the  river.  And 
darkness  came  over  the  land  ;  and  then  the 
herald  spied  Hermes,  and  said :  — 

"  Consider,  my ,  lord,  what  we  shall  do.  I 
see  a  man,  and  I  am  sore  afraid  lest  he  slay 


300  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

us.  Shall  we  flee  on  the  chariot,  or  shall  we 
go  nea7~an3~entreartitm^  that  he  may  have 
pity  upon  us  ?  " 

Then  the  old  man  was  sore  troubled,  and 
his  hair  stood  up  with  fear.  But  Hermes 
came  near  and  took  him  by  the  hand  and 
said  :  — 

"  Whither  goest  thou,  old  man,  with  thy 
horses  and  mules  through  the  darkness?  Hast 

[thou  no  fear  of  these  fierce  Greeks,  who  are 
close  at  hand?  If  any  one  should  see  thee 
with  all  this  wealth,  what  then  ?  And  thou 
art  not  young,  nor  is  thy  attendant  young,  that 
ye  should  defend  yourselves  against  an  enemy. 
But  I  will  not  harm  thee,  nor  suffer  any  other, 
I  for  thou  art  like  my  own  dear  father." 

"  It   is   well,  my   son,"   said    the    old    man. 

"  Surely  one  of  the  blessed  gods  is  with  me,  in 

j  causing  me  to  meet  such  an  one  as  thou,  so 

fair  and  so  wise.     Happy  the  parents  of  such 

a  son ! " 

And  Hermes  said :  "  Come,  tell  me  true,  old 
man.  Are  you  sending  away  all  these  treas- 
ures that  they  may  be  kept  safe  for  you  far 
away  ?  or  are  all  the  men  of  Troy  leaving  the 


THE  RANSOMING   OF  HECTOR.  30 1 

city,  seeing  now  that  Hector,  who  was  their 
bravest  warrior,  is  dead  ? " 

Then  Priam  answered,  "  Who  art  thou,  my 
son,  and  what  thy  race,  that  thou  speakest  so 
truly  about  my  hapless  son  ?  " 

"  Often,"  said  Hermes,  "  have  I  seen  Hector 
in  the  battle,  both  at  other  times,  and  when  he 
drove  the  Greeks  before  him  at  the  ships. 
We,  indeed,  stood  and  watched  and  marvelled 
at  him,  for  Achilles  would  not  suffer  us  to 
fight,  being  wroth  with  King  Agamemnon. 
Now  I  am  a  follower  of  Achilles,  coming  from 
Greece  in  the  same  ship  with  him.  One  of 
the  Myrmidons  I  am,  son  of  Polyctor,  an  old 
man  such  as  thou  art.  Six  other  sons  he  has, 
and  when  we  drew  lots  who  should  come  to 
the  war,  it  fell  to  me.  But  know  that  with  the 
morning  the  Greeks  will  set  their  battle  in 
array  against  the  city,  for  they  are  weary  of 
their  sojourn,  and  the  kings  cannot  keep  them 
back."  ' 

Then  said  Priam,  "  If  thou  art  an  attendant 
of  Achilles,  tell  me  true,  is  my  son  yet  by  the 
ships,  or  have  the  dogs  devoured  him  ?  " 

And  Hermes  answered :   "  Nor  dogs  nor  vul- 


302  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

tures  have  devoured  him.     Still  he  lies  by  the 
ships    of    Achilles ;    and   though    this   is   the\ 
twelfth  day  since  he  was  slain,  no  decay  has\ 
touched    him.       Nay,    though    Achilles    drags 
him  round  the  tomb  of  his  dear  Patroclus,  yet 

!  even  so  does  no  unseemliness  come   to  him. 

!  All  fresh  he  lies,  and  the  blood  is  washed  from 
him,  and  all  his  wounds  are  closed; — and  many 
spear-points  pierced  him.  The  blessed  gods 
love  him  well,  dead  man  though  he  be." 

This  King  Priam  was  well  pleased  to  hear. 
"  It  is  well,"  he  said,  "  for  a  man  to  honour  the 
gods ;  for,  indeed,  as  my  son  never  forgot  the 
dwellers  on  Olympus,  so  have  they  not  for- 
gotten him,  even  in  death.  But  do  thou  take 
this  fair  cup,  and  do  kindness  to  him,  and  lead 
rne  to  the  tent  of  Achilles." 

"Nay,"  answered  Hermes;  "thou  speakest 
this  in  vain.  No  gift  would  I  take  from  thy 
hand  unknown  to  Achilles ;  for  I  honour  him 
much,  and  fear  to  rob  him,  lest  some  evil  hap- 
pen to  me  afterwards.  But  thee  I  will  guide 
to  Argos  itself,  if  thou  wilt,  whether  by  land  or 
sea,  and  no  one  shall  blame  my  guiding." 
Then  he  leapt  into  the  chariot  of  the  King 


THE  RANSOMING   OF  HECTOR.  303 

and  caught  the  reins  in  his  hand,  and  gave  the 
horses  and  the  mules  a  strength  that  was  not 
their  own.  And  when  they  came  to  the  ditch 
and  the  trench  that  guarded  the  ships,  lo ! 
the  guards  were  busy  with  their  meal ;  but 
Hermes  made  sleep  descend  upon  them,  and 
opened  the  gates,  and  brought  in  Priam  with 
his  treasures.  And  when  they  came  to  the 
tent  of  Achilles,  Hermes  lighted  down  from 
the  chariot  and  said:  — 

"  Lo !  I  am  Hermes,  whom  my  Father  Zeus 
hath  sent  to  be  thy  guide.  And  now  I  shall 
depart,  for  I  would  not  that  Achilles  should 
see  me.  But  go  thou  in,  and  clasp  his  knees, 
and  beseech  him  by  his  father,  and  his  mother, 
and  his  child.  So  shalt  thou  move  his  heart 
with  pity." 

So  Hermes  departed  to  Olympus,  and  King 
Priam  leapt  down  from  the  chariot,  leaving 
the  herald  to  care  for  the  horses  and  the 
mules,  and  went  to  the  tent.  There  he  found 
Achilles  sitting;  his  comrades  sat  apart,  but 
two  waited  on  him,  for  he  had  but  newly  ended 
his  meal,  and  the  table  was  yet  at  his  hand. 
But  no  man  saw  King  Priam  till  he  was  close 


304  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

to  Achilles,  and  caught  his  knees  and  kissed 
his  hands,  the  dreadful,  murderous  hands  that 
had  slain  so  many  of  his  sons.  As  a  man  who 
slays  another  by  mishap  flies  to  some  stranger 
land,  to  some  rich  man's  home,  and  all  wonder 
to  see  him,  so  Achilles  wondered  -to  see  King 
Priam,  and  his  comrades  wondered,  looking 
one  at  another.  Then  King  Priam  spake :  — 

"  Think  of  thy  father,  godlike  Achilles,  and 
pity  me.  He  is  old,  as  I  am,  and,  it  may  be, 
his  neighbours  trouble  him,  seeing  that  he  has 
no  defender;  yet  so  long  as  he  knows  that 
thou  art  alive,  it  is  well  with  him,  for  every 
day  he  hopes  to  see  his  dear  son  returned 
from  Troy.  But  as  for  me,  I  am  altogether 
wretched.  Many  a  valiant  son  I  had,  —  nine- 
teen born  to  me  of  one  mother,  —  and  most  of 
them  are  dead,  and  he  that  was  the  best  of  all 
who  kept  our  city  safe,  he  has  been  slain  by  thee. 
He  it  is  whom  I  have  come  to  ransom.  Have 
pity  on  him  and  on  me,  thinking  of  thy  father. 
Never,  surely,  was  lot  so  sad  as  this,  to  kiss  the 
hands  that  slew  a  son." 

But  the  words  so  stirred  the  heart  of 
Achilles  that  he  wept,  thinking  now  of  Patro- 


THE  RANSOMING   OF  HECTOR.  305 

clus,  and  now  of  his  old  father  at  home ;  and 
Priam  wept,  thinking  of  his  dead  Hector.  But 
at  last  Achilles  stood  up  from  his  seat  and 
raised  King  Priam,  having  pity  on  his  white 
hair  and  his  white  beard,  and  spake :  — 

"  How  didst  thou  dare  to  come  to  the  ships 
of  the  Greeks,  to  the  man  who  slew  thy  sons  ? 
Surely,  thou  must  have  a  heart  of  iron.  But 
sit  thou  down:  let  our  sorrows  rest  in  our 
hearts,  for  there  is  no  profit  in  lamentation. 
It  is  the  will  of  the  gods  that  men  should 
suffer  woe,  but  they  are  themselves  free  from 
care.  Two  chests  are  set  by  the  side  of 
Father  Zeus,  one  of  good  and  one  of  evil  gifts, 
and  he  mixes  the  lot  of  men,  taking  out  of 
both.  Many  noble  gifts  did  the  gods  give  to 
King  Peleus:  wealth  and  bliss  beyond  that  of 
other  men,  and  kingship  over  the  Myrmidons. 
Ay !  and  they  gave  him  a  goddess  to  be  his 
wife.  But  they  gave  also  this  evil,  that  he 
had  no  stock  of  stalwart  children  in  his  house, 
but  one  son  only,  and  I  cannot  help  him  at 
all  in  his  old  age,  for  I  tarry  here  far  away  in 
Troy.  Thou,  too,  old  man,  hadst  wealth  and 
\  power  of  old,  and  lordship  over  all  that  lies 

u 


306  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

between  Lesbos  and  Phrygia  and  the  stream 
of  Hellespont.  And  to  thee  the  gods  have 
given  this  ill,  that  there  is  ever  battle  and 
slaughter  about  thy  city  walls.  But  as  for 
thy  son,  wail  not  for  him,  for  thou  canst  not 
raise  him  up." 

But  Priam  answered :  "  Make  me  not  to  sit, 
great  Achilles,  while  Hector  lies  unhonoured. 
Let  me  ransom  him,  and  look  upon  him  with 
my  eyes,  and  do  thou  take  the  gifts.  And  the 
gods  grant  thee  to  return  safe  to  thy  father- 
land." 

But  Achilles  frowned  and  said:  "Vex  me 
not ;  I  am  minded  myself  to  give  thee  back 
thy  Hector.  For  my  mother  came  from  the 
sea,  bearing  the  bidding  of  Zeus,  and  thou, 
methinks,  hast  not  come  hither  without  some 
guidance  from  the  gods.  But  trouble  me  no 
more,  lest  I  do  thee  some  hurt." 

And  King  Priam  feared  and  held  his  peace. 
Then  Achilles  hastened  from  his  tent,  and  two 
comrades  with  him.  First  they  loosed  the 
horses  from  the  chariot  and  the  mules  from 
the  wagon ;  then  they  brought  in  the  herald 
Idaeus,  and  took  the  gifts.  Only  they  left  of 


RANSOMING   OF  HECTOR.  307 

them  two  cloaks  and  a  tunic,  wherein  they 
might  wrap  the  dead.  And  Achilles  hade  the 
women  wash  and  anoint  the  body,  but  apart 
from  the  tent,  lest,  perchance,  Priam  should 
see  his  son  and  cry  aloud,  and  so  awaken  the 
fury  in  his  heart.  But  when  it  was  washed 
and  anointed,  Achilles  himself  lifted  it  in  his 
arms  and  put  it  on  the  litter,  and  his  comrades 
lifted  the  litter  on  the  wagon. 

And  when  all  was  finished,  Achilles  groaned 
and  cried  to  his  dead  friend,  saying :  — 

"Be  not  wroth,  Patroclus,  if  thou  shouldst 
hear  in  the  unknown  land  that  I  have  ransomed 
Hector  to  his  father:  a  noble  ransom  hath  he 
paid  me,  and  of  this,  too,  thou  shalt  have  thy 
share,  as  is  meet." 

Then  he  went  back  to  his  tent,  and  set  him- 
self down,  over  against  Priam,  and  spake : 
Thy  son  is  ransomed,  old  man,  and  to-morrow 
shalt  thou  see  him  and  take  him  back  to  Troy. 
But  now  let  us  eat.  Did  not  Niobe  eat  when 
she  lost  her  twelve  children,  six  daughters  and 
six  blooming  sons,  whom  Apollo  and  Artemis 
sleW  —  Apollo  these  and  Artemis  those  —  be- 
cause she  likened  herself  to  the  fair  Latona  ? 


308  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

So  let  us  eat,  old  man.  To-morrow  shalt  thou 
weep  for  Hector ;  many  tears,  I  trow,  shall  be 
shed  for  him." 

So  they  ate  and  drank.  And  when  the  meal 
was  ended,  Achilles  sat  and  marvelled  at  King 
Priam's  noble  look,  and  King  Priam  marvelled 
at  Achilles,  so  strong  he  was  and  fair. 

Then  Priam  said :  "  Let  me  sleep,  great 
Achilles.  I  have  not  slept  since  my  son  fell 
by  thy  hand.  Now  I  have  eaten  and  drunk, 
and  my  eyes  are  heavy." 

So  the  comrades  of  Achilles  made  him  a 
bed  outside,  where  no  one  might  see  him, 
should  it  chance  that  any  of  the  chiefs  should 
come  to  the  tent  of  Achilles  to  take  counsel, 
and  should  espy  him,  and  tell  it  to  King  Aga~ 
memnon. 

But  before  he  slept  King  Priam  said :  "  If 
thou  art  minded  to  let  me  bury  Hector,  let  there 
be  a  truce  between  my  people  and  the  Greeks. 
For  nine  days  let  us  mourn  for  Hector,  and  on 
the  tenth  will  we  bury  him  and  feast  the  people, 
and  on  the  eleventh  raise  a  great  tomb  above 
him,  and  on  the  twelfth  we  will  fight  again,  if 
fight  we  must." 


THE  RANSOMING   OF  HECTOR.  309 


And  Achilles  answered,  "  Be  it  so :  I  will 
]  stay  the  war  for  so  long." 

But  while  Priam  slept  there  came  to  him 
Hermes,  the  messenger  of  Zeus,  and  said : 
"Sleepest  thou,  Priam,  among  thy  foes  ?  Achilles 
has  taken  ransom  for  thy  Hector  ;  but  thy  sons 
that  are  left  would  pay  thrice  as  much  for  thee 
should  Agamemnon  hear  that  thou  wert  among 
the  ships." 

The  old  man  heard  and  trembled,  and  roused 
the  herald,  and  the  two  yoked  the  horses  and 
the  mules.  So  they  passed  through  the  army, 
and  no  man  knew.  And  when  they  came  to 
the  river,  Hermes  departed  to  Olympus,  and 
the  morning  shone  over  all  the  earth.  Wail- 
ing and  weeping,  they  carried  the  body  to  the 
city. 

It  was  Cassandra  who  first  espied  them  as 
they  came.  (  Her  father  she  saw,  and  the  herald, 
and  then  the  dead  body  on  the  litter,  and  she 
cried,  "Sons  and  daughters  of  Troy,  go  to 
meet  Hector,  if  ever  ye  have  met  him  with  joy 
as  he  came  back  from  the  battle." 

And  straightway  there  was  not  man  or  woman 
left  in  the  city.  They  met  the  wagon  when  it 


310  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

was  close  to  the  gates  :  his  wife  led  the  way, 
and  his  mother  and  all  the  multitude  followed. 
And  in  truth  they  would  have  kept  it  thus  till 
evening,  weeping  and  wailing,  but  King  Priam 
spake : — 

"  Let  us  pass  ;  ye  shall  have  enough  of  wail- 
ing when  we  have  taken  him  to  his  home." 

So  they  took  him  to  his  home  and  laid  him 
on  his  bed.  And  the  minstrels  lamented,  and 
the  women  wailed. 

Then  first  of  all  came  Andromache,  his  wife, 
and  cried :  — 

"  O  my  husband,  thou  hast  perished  in  thy 
youth,  and  I  am  left  in  widowhood,  and  our 
child,  thy  child  and  mine,  is  but  an  infant !  I 
fear  me  he  will  not  grow  to  manhood.  Ere 
that  day  this  city  will  fall,  for  thou  art  gone 
who  wast  its  defender.  Soon  will  they  carry  us 
away,  mothers  and  children,  in  the  ships,  and 
thou,  my  son,  perchance  will  be  with  us,  and 
serve  the  stranger  in  unseemly  bondage ;  or,  it 
may  be,  some  Greek  will  slay  thee,  seizing  thee 
and  dashing  thee  from  the  wall ;  some  Greek 
whose  brother,  or  father,  or  son,  Hector  has 
slain  in  the  battle.  Many  a  Greek  did  Hector 


THE  RANSOMING   OF  HECTOR.  3 1 1 

slay ;  no  gentle  hand  was  his  in  the  fray.  There- 
fore, do  the  people  wail  for  him  to-day.  Sore  is 
thy  parents'  grief,  O  Hector,  but  sorest  mine. 
Thou  didst  stretch  no  hands  of  farewell  to  me 
from  thy  bed,  nor  speak  any  word  of  comfort  for 
me  to  muse  on  while  I  weep  night  and  day." 

Next  spake  Hecuba,  his  mother :  "  Dear 
wast  thou,  my  son,  in  life  to  the  immortal  gods, 
and  dear  in  death.  Achilles  dragged  thee  about 
the  tomb  of  his  dear  Patroclus,  but  could  not 
bring  him  back,  I  ween,  and  now  thou  liest 
fresh  and  fair  as  one  whom  the  God  of  the  silver 
bow  has  slain  with  sudden  stroke." 

And  last  of  all  came  Helen,  and  cried :  "  Many 
a  year  has  passed  since  I  came  to  Troy — would 
that  I  had  died  before !  And  never  have  I 
heard  from  thy  lips  one  bitter  word,  and  if  ever 
husband's  sister,  or  sister-in-law,  or  mother-in- 
law  —  for  Priam  was  ever  gentle  as  a  father  — 
spake  harshly  to  me,  thou  wouldst  check  them 
with  thy  grace  and  gracious  words.  Therefore 
I  weep  for  thee ;  no  one  is  left  to  be  my  friend 
in  all  the  broad  streets  of  Troy.  All  shun  and 
hate  me  now." 

And  all  the  people  wailed  reply. 


312  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

Then  Priam  spake :  "  Go,  my  people,  gather 
wood  for  the  burial,  and  fear  not  any  ambush 
of  the  Greeks,  for  Achilles  promised  that  he 
would  stay  the  war  until  the  twelfth  day  should 


come." 


So  for  nine  days  the  people  gathered  much 
wood,  and  on  the  tenth  they  laid  Hector  upon 
the  pile,  and  lit  fire  beneath  it.  And  when  it 
was  burnt  they  quenched  the  embers  with  wine. 
Then  his  brethren  and  comrades  gathered 
together  the  white  bones,  and  laid  them  in  a 
chest  of  gold ;  and  this  they  covered  with 
purple  robes  and  put  in  a  great  coffin,  and  laid 
upon  it  stones  many  and  great.  And  over  all 
they  raised  a  mighty  mound  ;  and  all  the  while 
the  watchers  watched,  lest  the  Greeks  should 
arise  and  slay  them.  Last  of  all  was  a  great 
feast  held  in  the  palace  of  King  Priam. 

So  they  buried  Hector,  the  tamer  of  horses. 


THE    END    OF   TROY. 


After  these  things  came  Memnon  the  Ethi- 
opian to  the  help  of  Troy.  He  slew  Antilo- 
chus,  son  of  Nestor,  in  battle,  but  was  himself 


THE  END   OF  TXOY.  313 

slain  by  Achilles.  Not  many  days  after  this 
Achilles  himself  perished,  for,  having  declared 
at  a  banquet  of  the  chiefs  that  he  would  make 
his  way  by  his  valour  into  Troy,  he  strove  to 
break  through  the  Scaean  gate.  There  did 
Paris  wound  him  to  the  death  with  an  arrow, 
but  it  was  Apollo  that  guided  the  archer's 
hand. 

When  Achilles  was  dead,  his  mother  gave 
his  arms  to  be  a  prize  to  the  bravest  of  the 
Greeks.  Then  stood  up  Ulysses  and  Ajax 
the  Greater,  and  contended  together ;  but  the 
Greeks  adjudged  the  prize  to  Ulysses;  there- 
fore Ajax  slew  himself. 

Yet  still  Troy  could  not  be  taken.  Then 
Helenus  the  seer,  who  was  one  of  the  sons  of 
Priam,  having  been  taken  prisoner  by  Ulysses, 
said  to  the  Greeks :  "  Ye  cannot  take  the  city 
unless  ye  bring  hither  Philoctetes,  with  the 
bow  which  Hercules  gave  him,  and  with  him 
one  who  is  one  of  the  race  of  Achilles." 

Now  the  Greeks,  when  they  sailed  to  Troy, 
had  left  Philoctetes  in  Lemnos,  because  the 
stench  of  the  wound  where  a  serpent  had 
bitten  him  could  not  be  endured.  So  they 


314  THE  STORY  OF  THE  ILIAD. 

sent  Ulysses  to  fetch  him.  Also  they  sent  for 
Neoptolemus,  the  son  of  Achilles,  that  was 
brought  up  in  Scyros  by  the  father  of  his 
mother. 

Philoctetes,  when  he  was  come  to  Troy,  slew 
Paris  with  one  of  the  arrows  of  Hercules,  and 
Neoptolemus  slew  the  son  of  Telephus,  who 
was  the  last  and  bravest  of  the  allies  of  Troy. 

But  when  the  city  still  held  out,  a  certain 
Epeius,  Athene  advising  him,  devised  a  device 
by  which  it  was  taken.  The  Greeks  made  as 
if  they  had  departed,  burning  their  camp  and 
sailing  away  in  their  ships.  But  they  left 
behind  them  a  great  horse  of  wood  in  which 
the  bravest  of  the  chiefs  hid  themselves.  This 
the  men  of  Troy  drew  into  their  city ;  and  at 
night,  when  their  thoughts  were  given  to  feast- 
ing, for  they  thought  that  the  war  was  ended, 
the  chiefs  came  out  of  the  horse  and  threw 
open  the  gate,  so  that  the  Greeks  entered  and 
took  the  city. 


COLSTON   -AND   COMPART,   PftlHTBOS,   EDINBURGH. 


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